A former singer in a band, Mary Cash enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, reading, sewing and cooking in her spare time. (Photo by Peter Frey)

MARY CASH
Office Manager
Counseling and Human Development Services
College of Education

JOB DESCRIPTION: “I manage finances for the department and as many six staff members.

“There are about 14 to 20 faculty I oversee. I have done almost every job in the department, and have reorganized the functioning of the department as our needs changed.”

YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 16.

A TYPICAL DAY: “I am a consummate problem-solver.

“A typical day means putting out fires. The problems brought to me could be anything from someone needing keys, figuring out what to do with students and wondering where orders are to keeping track of checks and pay dates.

“Sometimes I have to close my door, lower my blinds and pretend I’m not here in order to get reports or other things done.”

MOST REWARDING PART OF MY JOB: “Observing the growth and success of the staff I have trained and worked with.

“I also take pride in the accomplishments of our graduate students. I see many students, and over time, I establish a rapport with them. I feel like a proud parent when they graduate. I have enjoyed being here at the college so much.”

“This past May, I received the College of Education’s 2004 Staff Award for Excellence. I was nominated by the faculty and staff from my department.

“I’m proud to have won the award, but I also feel that it should have gone to all the employees who were still here after the reorganization the college underwent this year. The staff rallied to support the new departments and they’ve continued to make the college run so well. There are just so many outstanding staff here.

“I am most proud to have been awarded ‘The Baton,’ which recognizes those who are the best at what they do. It’s an award the college’s staff representative group started back in 1995.”

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF MY JOB: “Trying to keep all the balls in the air at the same time. I like problem-solving, but sometimes I feel like I’m an enabler who helps others to avoid solving their own problems. Trying to get people to solve problems on their own is a big challenge.”

OTHER UGA WORK EXPERIENCE: “For a couple of years, I worked at the Rutland Center off Broad Street as an administrative secretary. It was a school for troubled youth, run by a grant through the College of Education.

“I also worked in the educational psychology department, helping to establish a new behavior assessment test for children. I was responsible for submitting the tests to different schools, sometimes even traveling to the schools, then scoring them and sending them off to the publisher.”

PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCES: “I sang in a band that played at events like small graduations and weddings, just as a side job.

“I have had many different jobs through the years. I did whatever it took. I worked in a bridal shop, as a hostess at Shoney’s, I painted houses. You name it, I’ve probably done it.”

IF I WASN’T DOING THIS JOB, I WOULD MOST LIKE TO: “Go back to my first job out of high school, which was teaching third graders. I worked at a Catholic school in Indiana for three and a half years, but then I got pregnant. At that time, you weren’t allowed to continue teaching when you were pregnant.”

OFF-THE-JOB INTERESTS: “I enjoy being entertained by my two granddaughters. “One is 3 years old and the other is 7. I am taught all the time about new things they’re learning.

“I enjoy reading, mostly non-fiction, and sewing. I used to sew my own clothes, and now I sew clothes and costumes for my grandchildren. I also love cooking. It’s my therapy.”

FAVORITE MUSIC: “Music from the ’40s and ’50s is my favorite. I still listen to my old records on my record player. They never go out of style for me.”

A BOOK I’D RECOMMEND TO OTHERS: “The Apples of Gold compilation of sayings by Jo Petty. It’s the kind of book you pick up occasionally, rather than one you’d read straight through. It’s great when you’re frustrated and need a lift.”

THE PEOPLE I MOST ADMIRE: “I admire people who take a stand on an issue, even if they are in the minority.

“I enjoy discussing things—we don’t have to agree—and I like people who stand behind their convictions.”

THE ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST ABOUT TODAY’S WORLD: “The inability of individuals to take responsibility for their own actions. It seems like today, everything is someone else’s fault.”