Office of Communications: Personnel
Sharon Dowdy
Sharon Dowdy doesn't usually get to work at 7:15 a.m. But on a recent Wednesday morning, she was pouring an early cup of coffee at an administrative breakfast.
It's those day-to-day variations in her role as public relations coordinator and news editor on the Griffin campus that she likes best.
"My job is different every day, which is what I love about it," she said. "I could be taking pictures in the greenhouse or interviewing a faculty member for a news release or an article for our magazine, taking pictures to document surplus vehicles or helping organize an event. My job is very versatile. No two days are the same."
Sharon underwent a name change recently. She reclaimed her maiden name "Dowdy" and dropped "Omahen," as she has been known since she started at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 14 years ago.
She first worked in the college's research communications office. But, when the college and UGA Cooperative Extension merged, so did the communications units.
Sharon said she loves Extension, but her heart still lies with research. But with a blended communications unit, she can write about research findings and then explain how they affect daily lives.
"No matter how long I do this, I still get a little rush when I see my byline in print," she said. "And my mom really loves it. She's always saving me clippings and pointing out news stories she sees about the college on Atlanta television stations."
Besides seeing her name on articles worldwide, working on a research station like the Griffin campus has its own personal set of perks. "One thing that I really like and am proud of is that I work around so many people who are experts in their field," she said. "They're doing groundbreaking work that affects people every day."
Not only are they her friends, they're her personal experts. If she has a question about food, turfgrass or plants, Sharon knows who to ask.
"That's a huge benefit that you can't put a price on," she said. "And everyday I learn something new from one of our faculty members."
Before coming to UGA, Sharon was editor of the This Week in Peachtree City newspaper and later served as public relations specialist at Gordon College.
"I can remember when I interviewed on our campus in Griffin," she said. "When we drove through campus, people kept waving. We have over 300 people here, and they are friendly, nice people who care about each other. It's unusual to have this many people working on a campus and everybody basically gets along. Dr. Arkin calls us a family and we really are. People genuinely care about each other. I learned this firsthand when I lost my dad."
Away from work, Sharon spins her feet at cycling classes. She then heads home to her two daughters and their host of pets – four dogs, a miniature horse and a dwarf hamster that "looks like a furry chicken nugget."
She also works in her vegetable garden, is active in her church and spends time pouring chemicals in a swimming pool that she calls a "giant science experiment." She and her best friend also sing karaoke at home or "in public without much encouragement, especially in towns where people don't know us."