Testimonials concerning the outstanding service of Erica Edwards: (Samples of original email messages from Applied Physiology faculty, staff)
1. Date: June 22, 2014 at 3:06:24 PM EDT
I am certainly in favor of this. Erica was tremendous in helping me in the midst of submitting 3 grant applications as Hollie was leaving, especially a complex one with lots of collaborators. She was seemingly always working to get these in, including lots of late night and weekend emails. She also helped coordinate some travel issues for me, which would normally be done by Shay. She was all in from day one and kept a very positive attitude and mindset the entire time!
Lewis Wheaton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Applied Physiology
2. Date: June 20, 2014 at 8:35:27 PM EDT
I would certainly second the nomination. As a newcomer to the AP team, I can honestly say Erica has made my transition from GHC absolutely flawless. Erica has embodied all five aspects when it came to my hiring process. She has been invaluable to me upon arriving at GT.
Adam Decker
Academic Professional
3. Date: June 20, 2014 at 6:41:10 PM EDT
I think that is a great idea. Here are some of my comments as an endorsement of Erica for the award:Erica has made substantial contributions to the School of Applied Physiology since she began her tenure last year. She has made significant progress in untangling a rather complicated and cumbersome system of accounting in the School. This has already established more efficient and streamlined systems of accounting and management.
In the short time since she started, Erica has sought and followed through in connecting with all members of the School. Her friendly demeanor and "can do" attitude has made her very approachable and created a sense that if you need her to solve a problem that it will be accomplished quickly and thoroughly and that if she was unable to solve the problem that she will seek a solution. I know that she managed a significant workload - filling the role of 3 vacated staff positions during her initial appointment in the School. She was able to advertise, interview and eventually select excellent new staff members to fill the previously vacated positions. She has also managed to train the new staff while advancing in her own duties as administrative manager. I greatly appreciate her willingness to enlist extra efforts in her role as administrative manager in the School. Erica is a valuable member of the School of Applied Physiology and in the short time since she began her tenure, several areas of accounting and management have notably improved.
Regards,
ChrisHovorka
4. Date: June 20, 2014 at 11:00:27 AM EDT
Erica has helped me in numerous ways since she joined Applied Physiology. While she covering multiple vacant positions, she helped me with everything from ordering, to hiring, to submitting grant proposals. I have come to lean on her for many things and she has delivered quickly and responsively in every case. I think perhaps most importantly, I have come to realize that she knows a great deal of information about how the Institute administrative policies work and has helped me to improve management of my sponsored projects and my research team.
Young-Hui Chang, PhD
Associate Professor
5. Date: June 20, 2014 at 1:21:30 PM EDT
Erica Edwards has been a life saver. She led me smoothly through the process of purchasing equipment and supplies with grant money, a process that I found overwhelming. Erica was on top of every vendor, purchase and penny in the process. When a new hire took over the purchasing portion of the 3-person job Erica was doing, Erica brought her up to speed so quickly that the transition was seamless.
Erica’s office is adjacent to mine so I know there is quite a bit of traffic coming and going, all bearing a special request for help. Erica respects everyone’s needs and provides assistance with a smile and an incredible positive, helping attitude—an attitude that is infectious.
Linda Rosskopf
6. Date: June 27, 2014 at 9:25:17 AM EDT
Hi Richard,
Erica is hands down the most knowledgeable supervisor that I’ve had in any position at any point in my career. She’s also the most generous with that knowledge, as well as with her time. I’ve asked her a lot of questions as I’ve come on board at Georgia Tech, many of which were far outside her purview. Even when she doesn’t know the answer or how to access it (which isn’t often), she always works with me to track down information and determine a course of action. Even while covering the responsibilities of three different positions- or two and a half, when I first started and was trying to get up to speed- she never seemed flustered or burdened, and never made me feel like she was too busy to help train and support me. She also always took, and still takes, the time out to ask how I was doing, how I was adjusting to the institution, and how I was navigating my recent relocation, which has been invaluable in helping me feel like part of the department and of the institution as a whole. Erica is endlessly patient, tirelessly hardworking, warm, forthright, respectful, collegial, and kind. She is a major asset to and an ideal reflection of the Georgia Tech community.
Thanks,
Stacey Bass
Grants Administrator, Applied Physiology & Psychology
7. Date: June 26, 2014 at 5:40:54 PM EDT
Erica Edwards is an outstanding office administrator. She came into a school which was very under-staffed for a variety of reasonsand quickly becoming more and more disorganized. The lack of administrative support was falling short of servicing both our departmentand the college needs. Erica’s expertise and vision for the School of Applied Physiology helped her quickly turn things around. Herstrong leadership skills, combined with extensive knowledge of academic administration, have played a crucial role in getting theadministrative offices back on track and running smoothly.Erica’s warm personality also makes her fun and easy to work with. Atthe end of even the most stressful day, she is still smiling. I am very happy that she is part of the School of Applied Physiology and one ofthe newer members of our work family.
Teresa Snow Ph.D.
Academic Professional