Extension uses two email addresses for staff.  The primary is the UnityID@ncsu.edu and the second is the email alias, First_Last@ncsu.edu. The addresses not only look different but they function differently depending on where they are used.

The alias email address is considered the more friendly and therefore is meant to be used with other people.  Everyone receives a lot of emails every day.  People are more likely to open an email from people and places they recognize.  As you work with clients and other staff your name will become familiar to them.  This is good until your name changes.  If you or a staff member have a name change, a new alias can be requested. Both the new and original aliases can be kept pointing to the same UnityID@ncsu.edu address.  While you can have aliases added or changed you can not have your Unity ID changed.

The UnityID@ncsu.edu address is used when doing anything other than communicating with real people. Signing into any service offered through campus like Gmail, Adobe, ActiveCampaign, Eventbrite, and others should always be done with the UnityID@ncsu.edu email address.  This is not to say that some campus services will seem to accept the alias address.  When the alias address is used, the service may either fail or you may wind up creating a new account but without the full array of things available through the proper login address.

If you are unsure which address to use, the rule of thumb is that unless you know that you are directly communicating with a real person then use the UnityID@ncsu.edu address.