Profiles on Three Long Time Faculty and Staff Members:
Annie Ruth Smith, Eugene Sumner and Louise Taylor
by Crystal McLeod, `04

Annie Ruth Smith: A Woman With Many Roles Retires

Annie Ruth Smith joined the Meredith faculty in 1980 to work in the housekeeping department. Smith became the private housekeeper for former President John Weem’s family and for Dr. Maureen Hartford at the President’s House. She also worked in the President’s Suite for several years and helped out with the cleaning in Noel House and Heilman Residence Hall.

Patsy Clark, a member of the housekeeping staff, described Smith “as the ultimate organizer” who “exemplifies loyalty, love, candor, dignity and so, so much more.”

Smith would like to be remembered for her work ethic and peaceful personality. “Unofficially she was the department mediator, nurse, mother, conscience,” said Clark.

Smith feels that Meredith College has changed for the best. “The campus is more beautiful and, over the years, there has been an increase in minorities,” she said. She hopes that “more black students go out there (to Meredith) and get an education.”

Smith’s fondest memory about Meredith College occurred when her supervisor considered transferring her out of the President’s Suite to work in another area. She said that the women working in the suite at that time wrote letters to her supervisor to request that she remain in the office. Fortunately with that type of support, Smith continued to work in the President’s Suite.

The working environment was her favorite thing about Meredith. She said, “I loved working there over the years” with the employees and students.

Life after work has changed somewhat for Smith. She now can relax and linger around her house for hours on end. She also helps her son with his cleaning company.

Smith’s great work ethic and motherly personality are sure to leave a lasting impression on the Meredith community. Clark said “It was really an experience to see her in action. Her retirement left a void in our hearts and our department.”

Eugene Sumner: A Social Work Professor Steps Down After 30 Years

Eugene Sumner, professor of social work, joined the Meredith faculty in 1973. His last day on the job was commencement in May.

The things that Sumner most liked about Meredith College are “the open environment” and “work(ing) with students.” He hopes that Meredith “continues to provide women with a liberal arts education and help (them) develop a career.”

Now that Sumner has retired, he spends his free time researching volunteer opportunities.

He received his A.A. degree at Mount Olive Junior College, A.B. at Atlantic Christian College, at M. Div. at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sumner also obtained a M.S.W. degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and D.S.W. at the University of Utah.

Louise Taylor: A Dedicated Professor of English

Louise Taylor, professor of English, joined the Meredith faculty in 1978. Over the years she served as the director of writing, coordinated the professional communications concentration, and served as chair of the English department. She was also the 2003 recipient of the Pauline Davis Perry Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Sarah English, professor of English, said that Dr. Taylor was “energetic and smart and sensible…she made things happen; she didn’t just listen to complaints or concerns but did something about them.” English said that Taylor “is the most gifted teacher I’ve ever known.”

Taylor tried to impart two major concepts to students while she worked at Meredith. She said, “It is good to write clearly” (and) “Reading literature can be a source of pleasure and insight, and for most readers, the pleasure and insight increases with rereading.”

Dr. Taylor's fondest memories of Meredith College “are of students doing things so well they took my breath away: the essay that exceeded both my expectations and the student’s, the contribution in class that drew an ‘ah-ha’ from everyone in the room… a research project that taught me something I wanted to know… and the functioning of Meredith’s honor system, to which students selflessly devote time and energy in order to protect the rights of fellow students and the integrity of a Meredith degree.”

Taylor hopes “the quality and value of Meredith’s experience” will continue to increase. She said, “I hope that the excellent education Meredith offers will become more widely recognized so that a rich diversity of students from around the world will compete to come here. And I hope that scholarships and financial aid will make a Meredith education accessible to any able student, regardless of economic background.”

Life after Meredith College for Taylor is pretty much the same. She said,“ I am reading, writing, cleaning house and trying to get organized.” She described these activities as “either my destiny or my life sentence.”

Taylor received her A.B. degree from Swarthmore College, M.A.T. from Duke University, and A.M. and Ph.D. from Florida State University.

Family Weekend to Offer Meredith Parents a Taste of College Life
Faculty/Staff Can Assist with Event, Sept. 20-21

Meredith’s Office of Alumnae and Parent Relations recently expanded its annual Family Day to Family Weekend. The two-day event, to be held Sept. 20-21, 2003, will offer sessions and other campus events that will give parents of Meredith students a glimpse of what campus life is like and a chance to hear from faculty and staff on various topics.

Assistant Director of Alumnae and Parent Relations Hilary Allen,’01, said, “One of the things we heard from parents is that they wanted to take part in sessions but still spend time with their daughters.” She said her office decided to adjust the schedule of events in response to those needs.

There are a variety of ways in which faculty and staff may participate in Family Weekend, including serving as greeters and as table hosts during lunch from noon-1 p.m. on Saturday.

“We would like to have faculty and staff from every area present during the afternoon,” Allen said, “either at the presentations, in their offices to greet visitors, or on the campus to help direct families and answer questions.”

Family Weekend will offer an array of special events for parents, other family members and students. A student services fair will highlight offices that provide services to students, such as the counseling center, campus ministry and campus police. President Maureen Hartford will deliver a State of the College Address, and seminars will focus on undergraduate research and the “Context of Culture” course.

A new “Empty Nest” seminar, a special session geared toward helping parents understand what to expect after their daughter has moved out of the house, has also been added to the line-up.

A variety of art, dance, music and theatre events will also take place over the weekend. Saturday night’s events will coincide with Senior Parent Night, a tradition that allows Meredith seniors the chance to honor their parents and thank them for their support. Sunday will feature a family worship service in the Chapel and tours of the Science and Mathematics Building, followed by brunch in the building from 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.

The Office of Alumnae and Parent Relations has been working hard to put together an enjoyable weekend for families and students alike.

“It will be a great weekend of fun-filled events for parents and their daughters,” Allen said.

For more information, please contact the Office of Alumnae and Parent Relations at (919) 760-8548.

<<page2   page4>>

Nutshell Archives:
July03
April03
February03
Jan 2003
Oct 2002
Sept 2002
July 2002
June 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
December-January 2001-2002
October-November 2001