Monday, August 28, 2000
Element of surprise
Improving the undergraduate experience
UGA Partners receive briefings on strategic, physical master plans
President Adams named to Knight Foundation Commission
Cutlip, former journalism dean, dies
Kudos
Retirees
Opening the school year

Campus Closeup
JUDY HARPER
Administrative Secretary
Environmental Safety Division
Hazardous Materials Program

TIME IN CURRENT POSITION: Three-and-a-half years.

JOB DESCRIPTION: “I am responsible for tracking every piece of hazardous waste from campus to make sure it is disposed of properly. We get a little more than 100,000 pounds of hazardous waste annually.
“A typical day for me is answering questions about hazardous waste on the phone and through e-mail. I also make sure that all 600 labs on campus have people who are properly trained to dispose of hazardous waste, and I keep them updated with the proper paperwork to identify the chemicals. Last year we collected more than 9,000 containers from campus. I am also responsible for reporting to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, how much hazardous waste UGA produces, what type of material it was and how and where it was properly destroyed and by whom.”

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF MY JOB: “Working with individuals on campus who believe they don’t have to have hazardous-materials disposal training. Some individuals don’t realize that we are required by the EPD to make sure that everyone on campus who deals with hazardous materials has the proper training.”

MOST REWARDING PART OF MY JOB: “Working with guys who know what they are doing. The team I work with is wonderful. They’re cooperative, they help each other, and we all get along really well. They work really well as a team solving problems, and they run a tight ship.
“I also love knowing that I am doing something good for the environment. Helping UGA be responsible for these materials gives me the peace of mind to know that our water and land will be clean for the future. I love being a part of the newly formed environmental safety division at UGA because we protect your water, air, food and land resources.”

THE PEOPLE I MOST ADMIRE: “Talk-show host and actress Rosie O’Donnell for her stand on important issues like gun safety.
“I met her at the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C. And she was truly passionate about getting more protection and education for our children. I also admire what she does with her show because it brings joy into a lot of lives. She also hasn’t let her wealth go to her head.
“I also admire Leonardo Da Vinci because he was so multi-faceted. I love his diversity--there was such a huge scope of what he was capable of doing. He was my hero when I first started out doing art; he inspired me to want to work with as many mediums as possible.”

OFF-THE-JOB INTERESTS: “I enjoy spending time with my grandson, Ethan, and sculpting. I studied art in college, so I spend a lot of time creating and learning new techniques. I enjoy making dragons and other bizarre animals-- anything creative.”

FAVORITE MOVIE: “Real Genius. I think its a great movie, and it shows that true intellectuals can have a good time.”

AN ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST ABOUT TODAY’S WORLD: “Child safety, and protecting our children because they are the most precious asset we have.
“That’s part of what I do here; I protect the environment for the children by taking care of this hazardous waste, and making sure that it doesn’t go back into the water, or back into the land. It’s a good feeling to know that you are doing it the right way and making a difference for the future.”
--Tiffany Gray
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