Gwendolyn Haney

Words to Live By: 'Take Charge and Do It' by Carol Mattar

If there's a light on late in the College of Pharmacy building, chances are it's in Gwendolyn Haney's office.

"I work until the job is done," said Haney, manager of the college's dean's office.

"I give all of myself and that may mean a lot of time and energy. I learned that from my mother, she always said, "Whatever you do, do your best."

Fortunately, Haney seems to have an unending supply of energy for her job, as well as the community and church projects she undertakes in her free time.

Her work ethic almost made her first day back in 1974 her last.

Hired as a clerk typist II, she spent the day tying letters and manuscripts on a manual typewriter and felt she had done so. poorly she was going to quit.

Two professors, Henri Manasse Jr. and Robert Mrtek, implored her to stay.

"They said they had a feeling I was very good," she said.

"It was because of the words they gave me that I'm here today. They said they saw potential in me."

She has lived up to that potential.

Clara Awe, director of the college's urban health program, describes Haney as "an energetic and a positive role model for the support staff."

"She serves as a mentor to other support staff new on campus by providing invaluable career development skills. She is the go-to person in the office, sometimes referred to as the 'traffic controller' because she has been known to juggle many difficult tasks at the same time," Awe said in nominating Haney for the Watkins Award. "She is applauded for her patience, her dedication and commitment, her cooperativeness and helpfulness, her strong work ethic, her informativeness, her problem-solving skills and her long-term loyalty to the university."

For her part, Haney can't say enough good things about the college and her coworkers. She worked there until 1992, when she went to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Services. In 1999, she returned to pharmacy at the urging of faculty members.

"Coming back to the college was an honor to me," she says. "I've always enjoyed my relationship with the people here and I think they're responsible for who I am, what I do and how I receive praise."

Haney finds time to volunteer at Salem Baptist Church, where she tutors children in reading and math and works on the legislative committee.

When her children were in school, she was president, secretary and treasurer of the PTA and a board member of the statewide organization.

The year she became a Girl Scout leader, her troop was tops in cookie sales, earning so much money that she took them on a two-day trip to Great America.

"I do volunteer work with children and young adults because I feel they don't have enough guidance," she says.

After she retires, she plans to devote at least one day a week to counseling young adults on employment skills such as computers, office etiquette and proper dress.

Ask what she does for herself and her eyes will light up as she describes "steppin'," a dance style she says is similar to ballroom dancing that was called "bopping" in her parents' day. In 1998, she was a finalist in a contest that drew 5000 people.

A serious music lover, she included a music room when she built a new house several years ago. She has about 1000 CDs and uncounted records covering R&B, jazz, gospel and classical music.

Her approach to her work, volunteering -- and life in general?

"Take charge and do it," she said.