I Am West Georgia

Susan E. Fishman-Armstrong

Years at UWG: Seven.

My job title: Laboratory Coordinator at the Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory.

What I really do: Collections Management, Registration, Education Outreach, and Volunteer Coordinator for more than 600 hours/year (since 2004) by students and community volunteers.

Birthplace: Kansas City.

Family: Celebrated 10 years with husband Andy Armstrong last September. 

People describe me as: Organized and detailed oriented.

My favorite things to do: My hobby became my career.  At home, I like to watch scary movies, read and sleep.

My proudest accomplishment: Marrying Andy and becoming a foster parent.

My passion: Making things useful.

My pet peeve: People not open minded and welcoming to others and their beliefs.

Before UWG, I: Lived in Texas and received my M.A. in Museum Science at Texas Tech University.

I joined UWG because: There was so much potential for growth in the laboratory and variety of work. 

I stay because:  Of the students.  I love working with them.  I have a unique prospective with them.  I get to work with them one-on-one.  It's often the first job they ever had, and therefore, I end up teaching them more than collection processing. In return, they teach me about music and the next ‘cool’ thing.

One thing I would change about UWG:  I think the things I don’t like are in the process of being corrected.  I like UWG for the way it strives to allow everyone to have a voice.

The best advice I ever received: Get involved.  You only have the right to complain so long, before it becomes your responsibility to be a part of the solution.

The best advice I’d give to new faculty and staff:  Get involved, it’s the best way to get to know people.

When I was a child, I wanted to be: An ‘ologist.  I liked science and learning and I couldn’t decide.  I ended up combining my favorite sciences together when choosing my career.

Most people don't know that: I love Star Trek, ghost stories and am proudly a Lionel Richie and Barbara Streisand fan.

My favorite quotation: Not a quote, but a poem by Ogden Nash in “Carnival of the Animals.” It's about creatures coming to life at night in the museum.  I check in the back of the lab when I am here late, but it hasn’t happened, yet.

The book I think everyone should read:  Read whatever you can on whatever subjects you feel fulfilling, whether it is about friendships or the next big scientific discovery.

The movie I think everyone should watch:  Spaceballs.

My favorite memory: Recently, was seeing Lionel Richie perform in concert last year with good friends.

The person (alive or dead) I’d most like to meet: Sam Adams for standing up for his beliefs, and Thomas Jefferson for his varied interests including his role to found America’s first museum.

What I would most like to have if castaway on an island: I couldn’t, I like my friends and family too much.  They would have to come with me.

What I would do if I won the lottery: I have almost everything I want, and the things I don’t have, money can’t buy. 

What I most want to contribute to students: Is to help them learn how to obtain and use the tools they need to survive.

Although you didn’t ask, I’d like to tell you anyway: I would like for more people to know where the Waring Laboratory is on campus.  We are located down from Z-6 across from the track.  We have a lot to offer, especially with the updated Education Program and Volunteer Program.  Please check out our website or stop in to say hello.