FREIDA THORNTON
Program Specialist/Partnership Liaison
Early Childhood Education

JOB DESCRIPTION: “I serve as the academic adviser for 200 students in our program, which involves advising, conducting orientation sessions and keeping the students’ transcript sheets current. I work closely with our program area head on the logistics of coordinating the undergraduate program. I also help students with their day-to-day academic problems as well as personal problems.

“An equally important part of my job is the partnership liaison. It involves working with the teacher liaisons in our 26 partnership schools in six counties.

“I visit each school every semester, communicating with the teacher liaison and administrators, to keep the lines of communication open between UGA and the schools. Most semesters I supervise student teachers as well as evaluate them.”

TIME IN CURRENT POSITION: Thirteen years.

MOST REWARDING/CHALLENGING PART OF MY JOB: “The most rewarding part is watching the students evolve into professionals, and observing their love for children and their enthusiasm for making a difference with young people.

“The most challenging part of the job is juggling all of the different responsibilities and effectively managing my time.”

A TYPICAL DAY: “The exciting thing about my job is there is no typical day. I could be out in the schools, or here in my office with students, or on the phone with prospective students and academic advisers from other institutions, especially our two-year schools. They call with questions about advising their students who are planning to transfer here.”

OTHER UGA EXPERIENCE: “None, even though the position that I’m in has evolved from just strictly academic advising to what it is now.”

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: “I was a middle-school teacher for 17 years, so this is my 30th year in the field of education. I was ready for a change in my career, but I wanted to stay involved in the field of education.”

IF I WASN’T DOING THIS JOB, I’D MOST LIKE TO: “Probably something in a health-related field. I’ve always been interested in health issues and healthy lifestyles.”

OFF-THE-JOB INTERESTS: “My kids call me an aerobics junkie. After many years of doing aerobics, I added weight lifting to my workout this past fall. I also like to travel with my husband, who attends conferences for his business. We’ve traveled all over the United States to places that I love to visit, but I definitely want to live here.”

FAVORITE MUSIC: “I’m pretty versatile with my music. I’ve played piano since I was eight years old. If I’m cleaning the house, I like to listen to oldies from the ’60s. I’ve played organ for church since I was 14 years old so I also like church music. I don’t play full time any more, I just fill in from time to time at Gateway United Methodist.”

A BOOK THAT I’D RECOMMEND TO OTHERS: “I’m an avid reader of historical fiction. I love books that really build on characters. I enjoy Eugenia Price and Bodie Thoene.

“Thoene is the author of The Zion Chronicles, and I really enjoy that series. I like to follow a family through several decades, and both of those writers do that. You can immerse yourself in that family and get to know them.”

THE PERSON I MOST ADMIRE: “Alton, my husband of 35 years. I admire his self-discipline and his positive attitude. We married at a very young age, and we were both able to complete advanced degrees while working and raising two children. Five and a half years ago, when I was faced with breast cancer, he was my biggest cheerleader. His positive attitude has always kept me encouraged.”

THE ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST ABOUT TODAY’S WORLD: “A lack of commitment from people today to their family, their friends, their church and their jobs.

“Changing this lack of commitment has to be an inner desire with people--this notion of not following through with things is probably learned throughout childhood.”