– Scott Hinshaw
For the year 2021, the UNCG Institutional Memory Collection interviewed two UNCG administrators and one staff member to document their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Julia Jackson-Newsom was the Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategy and Policy at UNCG until she left to work at her alma mater, Wake Forest University, in the fall of 2021. Dr. Jackson-Newsom was a vital part of UNCG’s response to the pandemic and helped to guide the pandemic emergency management task force created in the spring of 2020 by UNCG administration. In her interview, she discussed her role on that task force and her memories of the pandemic, as well as her career here at UNCG before the pandemic. For her efforts in guiding the university over the course of the pandemic, Dr. Jackson-Newsom was recognized with the Gladys Strawn Bullard Award for outstanding leadership and service in 2021. We are sad to see Dr. Jackson-Newsom leave UNCG but congratulate Wake Forest University on getting a wonderful administrator!
Dr. Traci McMillian is the UNCG Student Health Services Medical Director and began her career at UNCG in 2009 as Associate Physician. As Chief Medical Officer for the university, Dr. McMillian was the clinical expert and also served on the pandemic emergency management task force. In her interview, Dr. McMillian discussed her role on the taskforce, her remembrances of the pandemic, and her career at UNCG.
Wanda Williams worked as a housekeeper at Jackson Library for 29 years until her retirement in spring of 2021. In her interview, Ms. Williams discussed her career at UNCG, as well as her second job with Guilford County Schools, her experience during the pandemic, and changes she’s seen over her time working at Jackson Library. We wish her all the best in her retirement!
The UNCG Institutional Memory Collection was also especially fortunate to capture interviews with eight students in the spring and summer of 2021. We spent a good deal of each interview discussing what life was like for them attending college during the pandemic.
This diverse body of student interviews also include many students who are the first generation in their families to attend college. We were so pleased to be able to talk with them as they shared their experiences at UNCG!
Edmond Gayton, Class of 2022, Residential Senator and Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Chairman for SGA
Selene Santiago-Lopez, Class of 2024, Community Organizer, Latinx/Indigenous student
Jacqueline Sandoval, Class of 2021, McNair Scholar, Lloyd Disciplinary Honors, and Latinx student
Hector Hernandez-Arroyo, Class of 2022, Latinx student, Founder and President of UNCG Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) chapter
Manuel Valdez Perez, Class of 2021, Latinx student, Senior Senator for SGA
Tangela Johnson, Class of 2021, Chemistry major and Elliott University Center Information Student Desk Manager
Joshua Burns, Class of 2022, McNair and UNCG Guarantee Scholar and Lloyd International Honors College student
Irving Montgomery, Class of 2021, Secretary of Media Affairs and Secretary of Student Affairs for SGA
These interviews, as well as previous interviews recorded for the UNCG Institutional Memory Collection, can be found online at: https://go.uncg.edu/uncginstitutionalmemory
*Masked Minerva Statue photo courtesy of University Communications Digital Library
