Marcus Jennings describes his job as a little bit of everything.
An administrative assistant for UGA’s Office of Alumni Relations, his job is part answering phone calls from alumni who have retired and often just want to reminisce about their old fraternity days. It’s also part Renaissance man, synchronizing palm pilots to computers and fixing printer jams. It’s going out to the office’s storage unit on Atlanta Highway to pick up stationery or
advice books.
Of course, some of those duties aren’t specifically listed in his job description, but rather fall under the umbrella of “other duties as assigned,” yet that doesn’t frazzle Jennings, who says he’s up to the challenge.
“You’d be surprised how many people come to me with questions,” he said. “I have the quick answers. I’m the type of person that if I don’t know the answer, I’ll go out and find it any way I can.”
Jennings’ can-do attitude has grabbed some attention, as out of nearly 225 employees he was named the most recent Employee of the Year in the Division of External Affairs.
“He is one of the hardest working individuals we have,” said Deborah Dietzler, executive director of alumni relations. “His pleasant demeanor and can-do attitude make him the ideal employee.”
Jennings was recognized at the division’s annual year-end celebration, where he received a plaque, and coincidently won a flat-screen television as a raffle prize.
“I was completely shocked,” Jennings said. “I do a lot of stuff around here, but I never thought it was worthy enough to garner that type of attention. It’s wonderful to have all the sweat and tears I’ve put in this job validated.”
Jennings said he keeps the plaque by his desk and that it reminds him to work harder.
Originally from Lincoln County, Jennings came to UGA as a student in 1999. He began his career at UGA as a student worker at the University of Georgia Bookstore, where he became a full-time employee in 2001. In 2003, he traded textbooks for advice books and started working at alumni relations.
Since then, he said alumni relations has become his family, where he jokes about having 18 mothers looking after him. Besides baking him cookies and letting him taste-test dishes like corn chowder, Jennings calls his “family” an “amazing outside support system.”
Other than the camaraderie, Jennings said his favorite part of his job is meeting the alumni.
“It’s a really interesting opportunity,” he said. “You get to meet all kinds of alumni. Sometimes you’ll get to meet a celebrity.”
Jennings has talked to Larry Munson, Coach Mark Richt and Dedra Grizzard, the widow of the late Lewis Grizzard.
“I got a kick out of that. I’m a fan of Lewis Grizzard, and I got to talk to his wife,” he said. “That was pretty awesome.”
But Jennings said his best day came this past spring when he chauffeured Uga VI, the university mascot who died June 27, around Athens for two days. He picked the bulldog up at the airport and took him to appearances.
“He was adorable, sweet and loving,” he said. “I couldn’t say a bad thing about him, [but] he got a lot of hair on the floor of the back of the van.
“I’m waiting to get the call about Uga VII,” he added. “I may have to get in line.”