Her infectious laugh, spicy sense of humor, and endearing southern drawl will warm your heart the moment you meet her.
Misty Pierce, Administrative Assistant II in the Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Department, will walk out the doors of the Wilson Building and drive away in her beloved signature Cadillac for the last time on July 15th. Her official retirement date is slated for Sept. 1st.
Originally from Colbert, GA, Misty lives in Danielsville, “out in the country,” with her husband, Jason. Their family includes two daughters, Savanah and Mahala; three dogs, Daisy, Drake, and Bentley; and five chickens. A rabid Bulldog fan, Misty recently reflected on her time at UGA, reminisced about her co-workers, and shared her plans for retirement. How long have you worked at UGA and the College of Pharmacy? I have been at UGA for 29 years—since August 1997. My very first job on campus was at the UGA ID card office in student activities. From there, I worked in Parking Service, the Terry College of Business, and finally, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, before joining the College of Pharmacy on April 4, 2014—almost 12 years ago!
What is your fondest memory of your time at CoP?
I traveled to Las Vegas for the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Midyear Meeting in December 2019. It was the first time I had been on an airplane or even been to the airport in Atlanta. I was scared to death! I even asked if I could drive out there instead of fly. But I did it, I made it, and I will always remember it!
From this editor’s perspective, the funniest Misty Pierce story may be when she called then-Dean Svein Øie “Honey” during a meeting. “The look on his face was pretty funny,” she commented with a twinkle in her eye. “It just came out before I realized it.” Coming in a close second were all the times she dressed as a PharmDawg Cheerleader Phan for many Phired UP Phriday events!
Who are your College of Pharmacy mentors?
Without a doubt, it is Dawn Chandler, Administrative Specialist in the Dean’s Office, and Jessica Hart, Business Affairs Manager. They both were always willing to help me with any questions I ever had. There are a lot of staff members who I really enjoyed working with and will always consider my friends. And, I have worked with some of the best faculty who were always available to answer any pharmacy and prescription-related questions whenever I had a medical concern.
What did you enjoy doing the most at CoP? What will you miss?
Helping people was always my favorite thing to do. And I love to travel, so being able to assist with faculty travel was a pleasure. I will miss the friendships that I have made at the College of Pharmacy.
What do you plan to do in retirement? What’s on your bucket list?
I am not sure what I plan to do yet! I know I will do some major house cleaning for the first part of my retirement! I love to ride motorcycles with my husband, and I also diamond paint. The top of bucket list is a dream to visit Dubai in the United Arab Emirates one day!
Any final thoughts?
Retirement will be an adjustment, because if you know me, you know that I am a people person. I would like to thank everyone for the support, friendships, and memories we have created and shared together. I wish everyone continued success, happiness, and good health. This has been a good ride, but it is time for me to give up my seat to someone else.
