People find inspiration in their friends, family, and those they work with, among many other places. Here is what inspires some of your co-workers.
I’m inspired by my dad, Broderick. He is a very hard diligent worker who is always willing to go the extra mile to help people. If you ever need something built or fixed, my dad is that guy who will stop whatever he has planned to come to assist you. I strive daily to be like him because he is a true definition of someone who works hard for his family and has a passion to help others along the way. - submitted by Rod Ray, MSE
I may not get the chance to work with him often – a difference of two floors is sometimes the greatest of chasms to cross in the workplace – but I’ve been incredibly inspired by our Dungeon Master, Kevin Guger. When it comes to fostering a sense of community and connection, he is unmatched. He takes every opportunity to create celebration in our workplace, displays amazing generosity in doing so, and dedicates endless energy into inspiring engagement with and pride in our School. In addition to Kevin, I would nominate Dawn Franklin for sainthood if I could (she’s certainly performed miracles for me!). Never have I met someone so willing to go the extra mile to help others, at what has to be great cost and effort, and who is also so dedicated to personally seeing things through. I see the care, kindness, and energy she puts into every interaction and every concern, and it inspires me to try for the same. - submitted by Eric Neville, ChBE
My inspiration is my stepmother. My father suffered with a type of dementia for several years before he passed away. She was determined to keep him at home as long as she was able to take care of him which was until he passed. Her devotion to him was an example of true love and dedication. - submitted by Vickie Brian, AE
I’m inspired by my sister, Etta Cole. She has been sick for over 20 years with sarcoidosis, and no matter what comes her way, she keeps on fighting and stays encouraged. She is like the Energizer Bunny! No matter what comes, she keeps on ticking. She reminds me that Trials will come, but how you allow them to affect you is What matters. - submitted by Mechelle Kitchings, MSE
Daurette Joseph inspires me as a leader, as a mentor and as an individual. She strives to ensure every team member feels motivated and hopeful in the office. She leads by example. She attentively listens; she is always giving. With her support, she sparks us to set our own visions and share it with each other. Her professionalism, granted, is second to none. And yet, she also genuinely cares for her colleagues as individuals. She reminds me of what a great leadership is every day. Oksana Gomas is an inspirational representative of Aerospace Engineering program. She never hesitates to help when our faculties, staff members and students seek for one. She is not only always the first one to offer help, but always goes beyond and above. Her kind-hearted and tireless customer service well represents the excellence our Aerospace Engineering department pursues. I am inspired every day. - submitted by Jinwoo Lee, A
I’m inspired by my older sister, Sarah. She’s a tireless advocate for others, and over the years she has fought for improved accommodations for kids with learning disabilities, rights for breast-feeding mothers, and now as she goes through cancer treatment she is fighting for change within the healthcare system. She’s a regular reminder that one person can make a difference. - submitted by Ben Wright, dean's office
My friend Bridget inspires me. She is a mother of four great kids and works as a labor and delivery nurse. She is selfless at work and at home. Seh went to school full-time while raising her children. She amazes me will all she does, and keeps on smiling the whole time. She's my friend and my hero. - submitted by Teresa Nelson, MSE
Staff Spotlight- Tia Jackson
Ask the students who pass through the doors of the Center for Engineering Education Development (CEED) and they'll tell you that Tia Jackson is an inspiration to them. We talked to her to find out who inspires her and what motivates her to give back.
Where did you grow up and go to college and how did you end up working at Georgia Tech?
I was born and raised in Dover, Delaware but spent some of my earliest years in Hawaii and Texas. Delaware is probably best known for being tax free and having nice beaches. I attended the University of Delaware where I initially majored in biology/pre-medicine but after freshman chemistry, I quickly changed to a psychology major. I went to the University of Pennsylvania for a master’s degree in social work and after graduating I moved to Atlanta to work in the mental health field, which I did for almost ten years. Needless to say it was emotionally taxing and I was ready for a change.
I have always been dedicated to advocating for others, so when the opportunity came up to work at Georgia Tech I was intrigued but I didn’t know how to integrate my previous career path in mental health with my passion for working with students on college campuses. However, looking back, my windy path was leading me to this point all along. I applied for a diversity manager position in a National Science Foundation funded Science and Technology center. After a year in that role, I moved to the College of Engineering to develop and manage a series of recruitment and retention programs for students in all STEM majors at Georgia Tech, and I've been doing that for almost 7 years.
In undergraduate and graduate school, I participated in and worked for a series of programs to encourage minority students and first generation college students to go into STEM careers such as FAME (Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering), Upward Bound, NUCLEUS, and the Ronald McNair Scholars program. Those programs left a lasting impression on me and it is so ironic that I am serving in a similar role for my students 20 years later.
Last year, I completed a PhD in Counseling and student affairs at the University of Georgia. My dissertation focused on the experiences of black women who work in STEM administration on college campuses.
Who has inspired you personally and/or professionally and how have they had an impact on you?
When it comes to my love for education, my grandparents had the biggest impact on my life. I am a 3rd generation college graduate. This was largely due to my grandmother, Jean Allen Wilson’s influence. She was a brilliant student and was the first person in her entire town to attend college. This was a huge deal during the 1940’s and 1950’s when she had very limited opportunities for what schools she could attend. The entire community and her brothers and sisters all worked and rallied around her to pay her tuition and expenses. As soon as she graduated, she reached back and helped some of her siblings finish college too. She graduated from, and worked at, Delaware State University, a historically black university from which most of my family graduated, for 35 years as the head registrar. I remember sitting in her office and helping her file paperwork. I saw her bend over backwards to get students into certain classes so they could graduate on time. I would go down the hallway to visit my grandfather, Roger Wilson, who would also go the extra mile, and sometimes go into his own pocket, to help desperate students pay their tuition.
Unknowingly, they passed down their love of education and their passion for helping students to me.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your career?
Some challenges are helping students navigate an environment where they may feel isolated or marginalized. I draw from my own experiences in college and professionally to offer them support and advice. I also lean on the relationships I have built across campus to connect students with as many resources as possible.
What do you do to try to be a positive role model for others?
I try to show my students the importance of work life balance and that they should do what they have to do now, so they can do what they want to do later. When I was finishing my PhD, I would often work from 9am-5pm, then write in my office from 5pm until 9pm. When I would come out of my office at night I often saw my students holding their own study sessions a few steps away. We were all hungry and tired, but in those moments, they were motivating me as much as I was motivating them. I also serve as a mentor for other people on campus who want to learn how to navigate the career ladder here or are seeking resources regarding the recruitment and retention of students in STEM. I like to link people with each other and serve as liaison for students, staff, and faculty.
What is your role within CEED?
I am the assistant director of the Center for Engineering Education and Development and in this role, I co-manage the Peer 2 Peer mentoring program for almost 140 students in all STEM majors. I also manage the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), a retention program for under-represented minority students and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), a 10 week summer research program for 45 students from across the country and a major graduate school pipeline program. I am also developing a support program for graduate students in COE. In addition, I serve as a resource for internal and external partners who want to learn more about diversity and inclusion, recruitment and retention of students in STEM and I do some of the CEED marketing when time permits.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I LOVE the students!! They keep me informed about the new fashion, music and cultural trends. I appreciate that I get to see the direct impact of my work. When they tell me, “You are the reason I am graduating with a Tech degree,” I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be. I also work with a great team of folks who are passionate about what we do. Our director, Dr. Felicia Benton-Johnson, allows me the freedom and resources to develop programs that will have the most positive impact on our students. She does not micro manage, and she listens when we have suggestions or new ideas. I also love the greater Tech community. I am proud to work with so many people who I consider to be friends. Finally, I love that I get to expose my daughter to all of the awesome resources at Tech. She can’t wait to become a Yellow Jacket, BME major some day.
