I Am West Georgia

Name: Erma Shooks

Job title: Departmental Assistant.

What I really do: I answer and route phone calls, correspondence, maintain the filing system, order and maintain supplies and equipment, monitor budgets, collect and enter data for the Fact Book, assist the open records officer with open records requests, and other duties as assigned.

Years at UWG: 22.

Before UWG, I: Was a store clerk, store manager, secretary, medical transcriber and shoe salesperson.

I came to UWG because: I saw the longevity of my mother and sister’s careers as employees at the college and wanted the same experience.

One thing I would change about UWG: There is nothing that I would change.

I was born in: Temple, Georgia.

Family members are: Husband, Edward Martin; daughters, Cheryl, Kishia and April; grandsons, DeAngelo and Greyson.

People describe me as: Kind hearted with a loving spirit.

Most colleagues don’t know that: My mother had 14 children. I am number 11.

Favorite things to do: Family trips to anywhere.

Favorite quote: “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” Malcolm X.

Proudest accomplishment so far: My three beautiful girls.

Pet peeve: People who have no respect for themselves or others.

Best advice ever received: Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Best advice for new faculty and staff: They should get involved in campus activities, groups and organizations.

What I most want to contribute to students: Always do your best.

The book everyone should read: The Bible.

The movie everyone should watch: The Passion of the Christ.

The person dead or alive I’d most like to meet: President Obama.

The place I’d love to travel to: New York.

Although you didn’t ask, I’d like to tell you anyway: I have watched this institution grow tremendously throughout my 22 years and am proud to be an employee at the university.