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Page 25
Campus Review
May 19, 2014
passionate about learning and education
as a whole,” says Royal.
Evans, who is originally from Atlanta,
now calls Clayton County home. She has
served in the Department of Public Safety
for 17 years and is currently a sergeant.
She graduated in 19995 from Fulton
County Public Safety Training and later
received a paralegal certificate and an
A.A.S. degree in paralegal studies from
Clayton State.
Evans finds watching students graduate a
most rewarding aspect to her job. She
noted getting to know students and see
them grow from the challenges of life to
meet their goals of walking across the
stage at graduation is a proud moment.
“As an officer, I like that here at Clayton
State you can get to know the people that
you work with and serve. I was touched
when I learned that I was nominated for
Alice Smith award. It’s truly an honor to
have one’s work to be recognized by your
community,” says Evans.
Clark earned both her A.A.S. and B.A.S.
in administrative management at Clayton
State. She received her M.B.A. from
Walden University. She is a resident of
Covington, Ga., but was raised in
Eatonton, Ga. Currently the assistant reg-
istrar; Clark has worked at Clayton State
for 13 years.
As chair of the Readmission Appeal
Committee, she loves watching students
at graduation who have had a difficult
start finally complete their degree.
“Clayton State reminds me so much of the
small town community I grew up in. The
campus is so inviting and there are some
very friendly people who are always will-
ing to share their knowledge with you.
I’ve grown to know people outside of
work and share in some of their personal
journeys,” says Clark.
Considering it a real privilege to be
Executive & Artistic Director at Spivey
Hall, Samuel Dixon celebrates his 10th
year at Clayton State. He received his
B.A. magna cum laude from Dartmouth
College and his M.B.A. from
Northwestern University.
He has lived in numerous places over the
years but now calls the city of Morrow
home. The most challenging aspect of his
career is sustaining the intensity of the
October-to-May concert season but he
says being able to connect extraordinary
musicians with appreciative audiences for
a fantastic performance is most reward-
ing.
“As a Clayton State employee, I came to
appreciate the beauty of the campus, the
incredible commitment of the staff and
faculty, and the ability of this institution to
really make a difference in the lives of its
students. Clayton State cultivates a highly
supportive and collaborative environ-
ment, and these values are really impor-
tant to me. People here really care,” says
Dixon.
She enjoys sharing her love and passion
for the dental hygiene profession with stu-
dents. She has been recently married and
enjoys living in her East Point neighbor-
hood.
“The most rewarding aspect of teaching
dental hygiene is seeing the ‘ah-ha’
moments when a student grasps a difficult
concept or does well with their first diffi-
cult scaling patient. These are the learning
moments I live for! The nomination for
the Alice Smith Award came as a surprise.
I am happy that my hard work and dedica-
tion to students, the dental hygiene depart-
ment, and the university have been recog-
nized, especially at this level,” says
Harris-Worelds.
Thompson has lived in the Candler Park
area of Atlanta for the last 25 years. She is
a full Professor of Management at
Clayton State and has been at the
University for 10 years. She received her
B.A. in Communications Arts from
Mississippi State University, a M.A. in
Organizational Communications from the
University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in
Human Resource Development from
Georgia State University.
She is an avid runner and married with
two children. She enjoys seeing the “light
bulbs” go off for students and has enjoyed
being a part of the three study abroad pro-
grams. She received the promotion to full
Professor this spring.
“Being able to connect with students from
all different origins and backgrounds is
very rewarding. This is my second time
being nominated for this award. It is an
honor to be nominated by my peers. I do
not envy the folks who were on the com-
mittee – I’m sure it is always a very diffi-
cult decision. All the nominees have many
talents to share,” says Thompson.
The University’s 2014 Alice J. Smith
Awards will be presented at the ceremony.
An annual honor since 1995, the Smith
Awards are presented to the faculty mem-
ber and staff member ranked most out-
standing as determined by committees of
their peers. The award was established by
local philanthropist Joseph Smith as a
memorial to his wife, to honor her career
in teaching and her love for learning.
Smith Staff, cont’d. from p. 2
Smith Faculty, cont’d. from p. 24