Augusta University employees making the years count

This year, 487 employees celebrated their career milestone anniversaries at Augusta University. A little more than half of them were honored in person at the Faculty and Staff Service Recognition and Staff Council Awards ceremony on Oct. 14, ranging from 183 employees with five years of service to two with 45 years – Robyn Hatley, MD, and Ida Walker.

President Russell T. Keen kicked off the event by expressing his appreciation and gratitude for the honorees.

“Whether you’re celebrating five years or 45 years, you’ve helped move this institution forward into what it is today. You’ve given your time, you’ve given your talent, and part of your life to this place and the people we serve,” he said. “I want you all to hear this directly from me. Your work matters. It matters deeply. You matter. Each and every one of you, you matter to Augusta University, and I’m proud to serve alongside you.”

Sergio Gallardo, creative director of Marketing and Creative Services in the Communications and Marketing department, was recognized for 10 years of service. He says that for him, AU is a place of growth. He admires the impact the university has on the community and sees great potential in the work that he does.

“I just love being a part of something that can be a legacy. Seeing where we were 10 years ago when I started, seeing where we are now from a brand perspective, it’s just a super cool thing, and I just want to continue that. I want to see how far we can take it, how big we can make it,” he expressed.

Gallardo said unlike working in a corporate job, he enjoys getting to see the fruits of his labor in person – his designs on T-shirts and buses and watching AU merchandise become more popular with students. In the future, he hopes to move into an executive role and build a team of graphic designers that would each create all the marketing material for their own specific colleges, rather than Marketing and Creative Services handling the work of the entire university.

Kimberly Davies, PhD, dean of the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences joined Gallardo on stage and was honored for 30 years of service. She echoed his sentiment that AU is a place of endless opportunity for its employees. She recalled her career journey, going from assistant professor to associate professor, then chair of general education and interim director of women’s studies before becoming the chair of sociology and being promoted to a full professor. Davies detailed how she witnessed the Department of Sociology expand into the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Social Work before eventually being combined with political science and becoming the Department of Social Sciences. After being the chair for a couple years, she was asked to step in as interim dean, and then later was hired as dean of Pamplin College.

“My scope has continued to expand, and I have had more challenges, more learning, and I have had more opportunities to work with amazing faculty, staff, and students all along the way,” Davies said. She claims that in the future she’ll likely leave leadership and return to teaching and doing research.

While Davies’ career has taken many twists and turns, few have had as long a journey as Hatley, Charbonnier chair and professor of surgery, who took to the stage last to accept recognition for 45 years of service. Hatley said he started working at what was then known as Augusta College in 1981 as a general surgical resident and never left. He’s seen presidents come and go and watched the university grow and change over the decades. Hatley describes himself as a “dinosaur” and said he couldn’t imagine doing anything but surgery. The older he became, the less interested he was in changing course.

“I’ve had great partners, I’ve had great experiences, I’ve got a great reputation here and I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a section, not only the department of surgery but in the section of pediatric surgery,” he said. “I figured if something’s good, why leave it?”

Hatley said he’s proud of the fact that his skills haven’t diminished with age and doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. He said that he’s always been a staunch believer in not waiting until you’re old to enjoy life. He has traveled all over the world and participated in several marathons and triathlons. That said, Hatley admitted he would like to visit Israel someday.

Ronitia Henry, an orientation and recognition program specialist in Human Resources, said that employee appreciation ceremonies serve a vital role in making staff feel valued.

“Celebrating years of service not only honors individual contributions but also highlights the collective impact our employees have on students, colleagues and the broader campus community,” she said. “Recognition like this absolutely matters because it helps people feel valued, connected and proud of the role they play in advancing the university’s mission.”

Henry shared that this year’s event saw a significant increase in attendance, which reflects growing support from the campus community. She said her department plans to survey the honorees and guests and use that data to make improvements and prepare for next year.

In addition to the service recognition awards, Staff Council also recognized employees who have gone above and beyond to make Augusta University a positive and productive environment for students. Staff Council Chair Laura Evans and chair-elect Khadejah Bates closed out the ceremony by presenting the honors.

Kimberly Dyches, the recipient of the Student Impact Award, was recognized for excellence in student support for her work as program coordinator in the Institute of Public and Preventative Health.

The Study Abroad Office received the Team Impact Award and was recognized for its dynamic trio of director Rachel Arant, International Education coordinator Karleigh King and office coordinator Amanda Main.

Samantha Hyde, the recipient of the W. Clay Adamson Jr. Award for Exceptional Facilities, was recognized for her work in the Facilities Operations department. As an environmental services technician, she has showcased an unwavering commitment to maintaining university facilities and enhancing the campus experience for students.

The James A. & Erie P. Blissit Award for Excellence in Administrative Support went to Jean Callaway, who was honored for exceeding expectations with integrity and dedication in her role as administrative assistant in the Department of Research, Counseling and Curriculum in the College of Education and Human Development.