On April 11, 82 employees of Samford University were recognized for their service and for working at the institution for a combined total 1,460 years. The annual Employee Service Awards dinner was held at The Club. Of the 82, one employee had worked for Samford for 40 years and three were recognized for 35 years of service.
40 years of service
Rebecca Warr has been a faculty member in the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing since 1981. She will retire in May. Warr has taught more than 2,000 students who have gone on to become registered nurses, including six current faculty members.“Becky’s reach is far and wide and her impact on healthcare and patient outcomes is just tremendous. Even in retirement, those nurses Becky has taught will continue to care for patients for years to come,” said Lora Shelton, associate professor and undergraduate associate dean in Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing. “She leaves a legacy at Samford that will long be honored and celebrated, and we are fortunate that she has served our school with such dedication and distinction. The Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing will not be the same without her.”
35 years of service
JD Burson has worked in Technology Services since 1986. He is currently a senior systems programmer where he has been instrumental in the evolution of the technology and networks on Samford’s campus.
“When I take a minute to think about how the campus technology has changed since JD started, it reminds me of Dr. Westmorland’s comment about sitting in the shade of trees we did not plant. Well, JD certainly helped plant the seeds of technology,” said Tim McRae, director of the enterprise systems group in Technology Services. “While many may not interact with JD daily, be assured that he is working diligently behind the scenes to ensure our servers and services run reliably.”
Ed Cherry has worked for the University Library since 1986 and currently serves as the system librarian. He manages the library’s integrated system, trains staff and students on how to use it and administers the library’s website, among many other responsibilities.
“Ed’s contributions and impact over these 35 years of technological and pedagogical changes have ensured the library and Samford provide the highest level of access and support to its community. We are so grateful for his dedication and service,” said Kim Herndon, librarian and dean of University Library.
Roger Lander, a professor in McWhorter School of Pharmacy, retired in August after joining the school as a faculty member in 1986. Lander is credited for expanding the school’s international reach, developing clinical sites in the community and positively impacting thousands of student pharmacists through his teachings. Many academic and practice opportunities for students that continue to exist today are credited to him, including the creation of practice sites at Brookwood Baptist Hospital, the VA hospital in Birmingham and the Jefferson County Department of Health. His work at the health department resulted in the development of a postgraduate pharmacy residency program, which was the first of its kind to be developed with a state or county health department.
“Roger was a well-respected member of our faculty. He was always viewed as the wise thinker and philosopher. He was unique in that he could simultaneously provide a valuable historical perspective about something while also being forward-thinking and contributing innovative ideas,” said Marshall Cates, professor in the McWhorter School of Pharmacy. “Finally, I would simply note that Roger always cared deeply about mentoring others, whether those were pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, or fellow faculty members.”
30 years of service
The following were recognized for 30 years of service: Larry Harper, professor, Brock School of Business; Pattie Harris, director of law student records, Cumberland School of Law; Edward Landers, director of media center, Division of Marketing & Communication.
25 years of service
- Patrice Donnelly, Brock School of Business
- Aaron Farrow, Transportation Services
- Rosemary Fisk, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Ginger Frost, Office of the Provost
- Randolph Horn, Business Affairs
- Jane Martin, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
- Jim Reburn, Brock School of Business
- Sonya Stanley, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Julie Steward, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Debi Whitcomb, Technology Services
20 years of service
- John Carroll, Cumberland School of Law
- Barbara Cartledge, Brock School of Business
- John Chatta, Technology Services
- Doug Clapp, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Deborah Crowson, Office of the Registrar
- Grant Dalton, School of the Arts
- Scott Fisk, School of the Arts
- Sean Flynt, Marketing & Communication
- Sara Gould, Office of the Registrar
- Steven Jones, Brock School of Business
- Mary McCullough, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Debbie Mize, University Advancement
- Donald Nation, Technology Services
- Renee Pelfrey, University Advancement
- Bridget Rose, Office of the Provost
- Grace Simms, Cumberland School of Law
- Kim Sims, Office of the Registrar
- Dale Skelton, Technology Services
- Vicki Thornburg, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
15 years of service
- Joe Adams, Public Affairs Research Council
- Ivy Alexander, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Andrew Benson, Public Safety & Emergency Management
- Kristie Chandler, Orlean Beeson School of Education
- David Frings, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Joe Hopkins, School of the Arts
- Alan Jung, School of Health Professions
- Darlene Kuhn, Office of the President
- David Luthin, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
- Elizabeth Martin, Student Financial Services
- Melissa Matthews, Beeson Divinity School
- Polly McKay, Human Resources
- Sydney Park, Beeson Divinity School
- Jennifer Philen, Student Financial Services
- Jeffrey Powell, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Brandon Rawls, Technology Services
- Karen Rayburn, Office of the Registrar
- Ginger Robertson, Brock School of Business
- Ian Schwarting, Accounting & Financial Services
- Andy Westmoreland, Frances Marlin Mann Center
- Michael Wilson, Center Congregational Resources
- Patti Wood, Orlean Beeson School of Education
10 years of service
- Rhonda Brazil, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
- Keri Burns, Center Congregational Resources
- Jane Cobia, Orlean Beeson School of Education
- Bernadette D'Souza, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
- Howard Finch, Brock School of Business
- Drew Hataway, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Jill Hightower, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
- Robbie Jackson, Public Safety & Emergency Management
- Kristin Kenning, School of the Arts
- Peter Malysz, Beeson Divinity School
- Martin Newton, Athletics
- Brad Radice, Marketing & Communication
- Serena Simoni, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Jessica Skelley, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
- Sharon Smith, University Advancement
- Trisha Stovall, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
- Melanie Trimble, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
- Brian Viliunas, School of the Arts
- Rich Yoakum, Counseling Services
5 years of service
- Lesley Parrish, College of Health Sciences
- Casey Ramey, University Advancement
- Sheri Ransome, University Advancement
- David Robbins, School of Public Health
- Tracey Roberts, Cumberland School of Law
- Pat Robinson, Human Resources
- Ana Rodriguez Matamoros, Howard College of Arts & Sciences
- Sarah Ross, School of Health Professions
- Elizabeth Sheaffer, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
- Ashley Smith, Marketing & Communication
- Michael Thomas, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
- Ashley Turner, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
- Ricky Turner, Athletics
- Rhonda White, University Advancement
- Tami Zenker, Cumberland School of Law
