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Something to Celebrate... Teresa McDuffie Retires After 32 Years With FMU Francis Marion University faculty and staff gathered Tuesday to celebrate the career of Teresa McDuffie, who will retire this week after nearly 33 years with the university. At a reception held at The Cottage on FMU’s main campus, McDuffie was presented with a special resolution by university president Dr. Fred Carter and lauded for her years of dedicated service. “Teresa has been an amazing part of this university, and we all wish her well in her retirement,” Carter said. “From her work in campus technology, to her contributions with the African American Faculty and Staff Coalition, Teresa has done an outstanding job and has left an indelible mark on Francis Marion." McDuffie joined FMU’s campus technology department as a computer technician in 1989. She later advanced to systems support technologist and network specialist, before becoming network systems administrator. McDuffie said she looks back fondly on her many years at FMU, and plans to remain in Florence with her husband, Bernard. “I just thank God for allowing me to be a part of the Francis Marion family,” McDuffie told her friends and colleagues. “I cherish all of the memories and I love you all.” McDuffie’s contributions to FMU were numerous. In addition to updating the network infrastructure on campus, McDuffie served as a founding member of the African American Faculty and Staff Coalition. McDuffie was also presented with the John J. Kispert Leadership Award in 2016.
Brand receives FMU’s AAFSC Diversity Award LaTasha Brand, dean of students at Francis Marion University, received the FMU African-American Faculty and Staff Coalition’s Diversity Award at the organization’s annual scholarship banquet Thursday night. Brand, a native of North Charleston, has deep ties to Francis Marion University. Before graduating in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in English, she served as president of the Student Government Association. In 2004, Brand was hired to FMU as assistant dean of students, and in 2018 was elevated to her current position as dean.
Hulon Named 2022 Bobby Gerald Main Street Hero Congratulations, Jason Hulon, for being named the 2022 Bobby Gerald Main Street Hero award winner! Thank you to the entire Hulon family for fifty-four years of service to Marion’s Historic District!
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VIPMagSC.com
June 2022
The AAFSC Diversity Award is given annually by the coalition to highlight the work of individuals who are dedicated to celebrating diversity and inclusiveness at FMU and beyond. Thursday’s banquet was held at the FMU Freshwater Ecology Center. The Diversity Award presentation was just one highlight of the evening. Recipients of AAFSC-sponsored scholarships were also recognized, Florence City Councilman and FMU alum Chaquez McCall was the keynote speaker. FMU President Dr. Fred Carter announced the creation of a new scholarship named for Bishop Donald Jackson to benefit members of the Young Gifted and Blessed Choir. Jackson is the longtime advisor for the group and an FMU accountant. Carter also announced he would ask the FMU Board of Trustees to name the university’s Academic Computing Laboratory in honor of recently retired network administrator Teresa McDuffie. Both Jackson and McDuffie are founding members of the AAFSC. The AAFSC’s scholarships are funded jointly through the AAFSC and the Francis Marion University Education Foundation These include six endowed and four flow-through scholarships. Two FMU students benefiting from those endowments were recognized Thursday: Ma’kya Fitts, recipient of the Dr. Joseph E. Heyward Scholarship, and Jalen Miles, recipient of the Dr. LeRoy “Pete” Peterson Scholarship, were recognized during the ceremony.
