VSU Honors Retired Faculty and Staff

Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of Valdosta State University, is pictured with Dr. Gregory K. Harrell, who retired after 28 years and 4 months of service to Blazer Nation. Harrell joined the VSU faculty on Sept. 1, 1994, and officially retired on Jan. 1, 2023, as a professor in the Department of Mathematics. During his time at VSU, he served as head of the former Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and he earned The Blazer Creed Award for Civility and The Blazer Creed Award for Integrity.   Valdosta State University recently hosted its annual Retiree Recognition Ceremony and Celebration in honor of the 29 faculty and staff members who have already retired or will retire by the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University recently hosted its annual Retiree Recognition Ceremony and Celebration in honor of the 29 faculty and staff members who have already retired or will retire by the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.

“I am proud to honor our retirees and to celebrate and recognize their hard work, dedication, and lasting contributions to VSU,” said Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, university president. “VSU is incredibly blessed to have a world-class faculty and staff. They are the heart and soul of this institution. My hope is that our retirees never underestimate the impact they’ve had, and continue to have, on the lives of others as a result of their years of service.”

2022-2023 Retirees

• Mark S. Blackmore, 26 years and 5 months

• Michael D. Blanton, 16 years and 0 months

• Rodney B. Carr, 5 years and 4 months

• Sandra J. Delk, 22 years and 5 months

• Suzanne M. Ewing, 26 years and 10 months

• Barbara K. Fontaine, 11 years and 8 months

• Jennifer D. Gill, 22 years and 10 months

• James Jeffery Grant, 29 years and 9 months

• Gregory K. Harrell, 28 years and 4 months

• Wei-Sung Wilson Huang, 24 years and 5 months

• Kristen M. Johns, 26 years and 9 months

• Michael D. Johns, 34 years and 1 month

• Linda P. Jurczak, 13 years and 10 months

• Kenneth P. Kirk, 33 years and 9 months

• William J. Loughry, 31 years and 9 months

• Nina J. Lutz, 29 years and 11 months

• Guifen Mao, 20 years and 10 months

• Deborah L. Marciano, 10 years and 9 months

• Gerald A. Merwin, 23 years and 9 months

• Peggy L. Moch, 20 years and 5 months

• Timothy B. Murphy, 28 years and 4 months

• Rebecca B. Murphy, 25 years and 0 months

• Wendolyn Louise Nathan, 21 years and 11 months

• Deborah C. Robinson, 26 years and 9 months

• Deborah C. Robson, 19 years 10 months

• Frances L. Singleton, 10 years and 0 months

• Thomas E. Tarwater, 15 years and 7 months

• Amy K. Williams, 8 years and 8 months

• Mickey A. Woods, 27 years and 4 months

The Retiree Recognition Ceremony and Celebration ended with each of the retirees being inducted into the VSU Retirees Association.

The VSU Retirees Association strives to help faculty and staff maintain their connection to the university throughout retirement by providing opportunities for them to remain involved in campus life and to serve as a resource to current faculty, staff, and students, as well as alumni.

The Retirees Association’s home on campus, the VSU Retirees Center, is located in University Center Room 1101.