Susan Herda spends her days helping others, whether by answering a slew of questions, throwing citizenship parties or just by mailing off some Little Debbie snack cakes and baby wipes to members of the armed forces.
Herda’s position as admissions counselor for the College of Pharmacy’s student affairs staff practically requires she be helpful, but she makes sure to take it one step beyond when aiding any current-or prospective-student in the college’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.
“I help students figure out what they still need to take for prerequisites, how to get their application completed, how to take the PCAT-which is the pharmacy college admissions test-and pretty much anything else they want to know,” Herda said. “It’s a lot of answering the same questions over and over in different manners.”
During the academic year, Herda can work with up to 20 different students on a daily basis. Using the telephone, walk-in visits, appointments as well as Facebook and email, Herda helps students sort out the challenges that can come with applying to the program.
Even after the admission process is finished and the students are in the program, Herda still finds herself helping them. Herda recently had a male student come to her wearing leather topsiders and ask how best to clean them (saddle soap). She’s also had students come wondering how to remove red ink stains from lab coats or pants.
“It’s like I’m their aunt who can answer any question,” she said. “Once they’re in the program, I just help with the random, weird things they run into.”
Herda, who moved to Athens from California after one of her daughters-Megan Lemerande-decided to attend UGA, started at the university in the Office of Institutional Diversity in 2008. She said her original position didn’t have enough student interaction for her liking.
Now, as she interacts daily with current and prospective students, Herda said her job is “perfect.”
“The students here are conscientious, bright, interesting and fun. I like to hear what their plans are after they’ve earned their degree and where they’re going to go,” she said. “They’re just a great bunch of people.”
Herda also helps Renee Hembree, a student affairs professional in the same office, with planning events such as orientation for the incoming class as well as the annual induction ceremony. She also plans and throws citizenship parties for any pharmacy students who become citizens while still in school.
Another way Herda aids others while being patriotic is by sending care packages to members of the U.S. armed forces serving overseas. Herda began shipping items after Sept. 11, 2001, when the Marines needed things like baby wipes to use as a way to stay clean while deployed. She also has sent items such as batteries, Little Debbie snack cakes, oranges and nuts.
“Whatever the need was, I tried to send whatever I could,” said Herda, who has a son and son-in-law who have been deployed with the Navy. “There are a lot of things they just don’t have over there.”
Recently, Herda has been helping a chief petty officer in the Navy continue her hobby of quilting while at sea.
“Care packages have evolved from baby wipes to quilting thread, fabric and magazines,” she said. “I’ve never been in a position where I’ve been away and in danger. If I can do anything to make them have a regular day or think of home or just remember that people give a darn, that’s important.”
Herda also sews quilts herself, often creating patriotic works to donate for charity raffles or fundraisers.
“I have this saying: ‘Heroes walk among us every day,’ ” Herda said. “I usually try to include it on every quilt. It’s one of my favorite sayings because there are these people with us all the time who you don’t really know are heroes, but all of a sudden you realize that they are.”
