Farewell

Retirements

The COVID-19 pandemic made the SSW think outside the box to say goodbye to our colleagues. We celebrated the following five retirees virtually with online message boards (viewing links included).

If you would like to post a message to any of their boards, please send an email to Jennifer Abbott, jabbott@uga.edu, or Kat Farlowe, kfarlowe@uga.edu, and we will give you an invitation to post.

Jeanell Muckle

Photo by Harold Waters

Jeanell Muckle, chief financial officer and administrative manager, retired after over 33 years with the university. Muckle began working at the SSW in 1995. In addition to her financial duties, Muckle was involved in the running of multiple aspects of the SSW including human resources and external affairs. She was a long-time member of the Black Faculty and Staff Organization (BFSO), served as the SSW Staff Council Representative, and was a UGA Foundation Third Pillar Society member. Muckle served on several ad hoc committees across the university in various leadership roles. https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/rMoTwWYy#view

Tom Artelt

Photo by Laurie Anderson

Tom Artelt, senior academic professional and MSW/DIV coordinator, retired after a combined total of 20 years with the university. An ordained minister, in addition to coordinating the BSW field program, he oversaw the dual master of social work/master of divinity degree program, was recognized as BSW teacher of the year three times, and served as chair of the University Council Libraries Committee. He plans to continue serving the community as a part-time DJ for WUGA-FM, the Athens affiliate of Georgia Public Broadcasting. https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/C9B4PDHE#view

Laurie Anderson

Submitted photo

Laurie Anderson, public relations specialist, retired after 30 years with the University of Georgia. From a temporary job as receptionist in the College of Agriculture, she moved to permanent and increasingly responsible positions in the Odum School of Ecology and Office of Research before joining the SSW in 2013. Anderson wrote and distributed articles about the SSW community and was responsible for publishing the Connect magazine and Empower newsletter. She also served as SSW resident photographer and website contributor. https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/FaL13Rnv#view

Larry Nackerud

Photo by Robert Newcomb

Larry Nackerud, professor, retired after over 26 years with the SSW. During his tenure at UGA, Nackerud served as associate and interim dean of the SSW and was chair of the Institutional Review Board in the UGA Office of Human Subjects for 10 years. Nackerud was active in the mentoring of PhD students, serving on 76 dissertation committees, 28 of which he chaired. Social work students in the MSW and PhD programs voted him Teacher of the Year repeatedly. Nackerud shares his thoughts on teaching at the SSW below. https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/QamSSOLJ#view

Larry Nackerud on Teaching ...

“I have enjoyed creating/developing some interesting in-classroom and out-of-classroom excesses/activities for students, like the tour of the ‘chicken killing plant in Athens’; hayrides with students through the Oconee Hills Cemetery; having students participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by the Audubon Society and the Ornithological Lab at Cornell University as a great way to learn about ‘time and place’ sampling, which is how social workers try to ‘count’ another elusive population, persons who are homeless; the use of Auction Theory as a means to exemplify the policy analysis model of Game Theory; and teaching students to just say the word ‘empirical’ at any time, particularly when another faculty member is around. My claim was that the term was a major part of the ‘culture’ of the School of Social Work and the University of Georgia and students needed to understand/know the ‘culture of higher education’ if they were to be successful. I have actually had former students yell out the term at me when I see them around Athens.” Empirical!

Teresa Payne

Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski

Teresa Payne, director of information technology services, retired in December after 32 years at the university. She joined the School of Social Work in 1996 and oversaw the creation of the school’s first website and growth of internet and technology use in classrooms. UGA Today’s Campus Spotlight highlighted her commitment to assisting students and the community with technology. https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/LriMjWKJ#view

Departures

Mumbi Mwaura

Photo by Laurie Anderson

Mumbi Mwaura, MSW/MPH ‘14, graduate programs recruitment coordinator, accepted a position as a program associate for curriculum resources with the Council for Social Work Education. For four years Mwaura led student recruitment activities as well as developed and implemented continuing education units, served on the school’s external affairs committee and as interim coordinator for the MSW/ MPH program.

DeVin S. Taylor

Photo by Laurie Anderson

DeVin S. Taylor, development coordinator, joined Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law as an associate director, Major Gifts.