McBee Institute celebrates Megan Holloway’s decade of service

This month marks the 10-year work anniversary of Megan Holloway. Megan joined the McBee Institute staff in April 2014 as Graduate Program Administrator.

As her responsibilities steadily expanded, Megan was promoted in 2019 to her current position as Coordinator of Academic Affairs. Prior to her work at IHE, Megan served on staff with the UGA Disability Resource Center. This was her first professional position upon completing a master’s degree in higher education administration from Appalachian State University where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education.

It would be difficult to overstate Megan’s contributions in service and advocacy on behalf of graduate students and graduate education in the McBee Institute. She plays an instrumental role in coordinating all three of our graduate programs (Ph.D., Executive Ed.D., and Master’s) and in serving more than 200 graduate students in her decade of service.

One of our current master’s students, Brenna Mathews, commented on how Megan has influenced her time in the program. "The kindness and grace Megan has extended to me through my time in this program has left me confident that I will be successful after graduation. Megan’s contribution to the success of every student within the McBee Institute of Higher Education is immeasurable, as she interacts with every student from the point of application to graduation. She walks beside us on our path through the UGA Graduate School and holds no expectation of gratitude."

Indeed, with selfless service, Megan has served as a constant source of support to not only McBee IHE students, but to faculty and staff as well. Interim Director Jim Hearn states, “Megan is an extraordinarily valuable member of the Institute community. From administering our graduate programs to serving as a valued contact point and empathetic listener (and truth-teller) for our graduate students, she has handled her initially assigned graduate-studies duties in exemplary fashion. But in many respects, she's also gone well beyond her initial role here. She has been an informed and creative colleague in developing new curricular initiatives, in revising our policies and practices to better serve student success, and in numerous other ways. Over her decade with us, Megan has justifiably come to be seen as one of the Institute's true leaders. Our community's appreciation runs very deep.”

Libby V. Morris, Zell Miller Distinguished Professor and University Professor, served as director when Megan started at the McBee Institute. Morris reflected with gratitude on Megan’s contributions, "Thank you, Megan, for 10 years of outstanding, selfless service to the McBee Institute of Higher Education. Your leadership role extends far beyond graduate education into all that we do at MIHE. Your keen insights, dedication, and willingness to take the helm make a difference every day. Thank you for your friendship and sound advice to me throughout the years."

Erik Ness, MIHE faculty member and incoming director, has worked closely with Megan throughout her time at the Institute. Ness remarked, "The best decision I ever made as graduate coordinator was hiring Megan Holloway." He continued, "Megan makes all of us better, individually and collectively. No one represents the spirit of McBee better than Megan."

Faculty, staff, and students celebrated Megan’s decade of service with an informal gathering in front of Meigs Hall on April 25. Cheerwine and oatmeal cream pies were served.