{"id":9292,"date":"2017-12-11T10:14:18","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T15:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=9292"},"modified":"2024-08-20T14:49:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T18:49:55","slug":"celebrating-two-colleagues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/celebrating-two-colleagues\/","title":{"rendered":"CURRENTS: Celebrating Two Colleagues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
In the last few months of the year, North Carolina Sea Grant bade farewell to Sandra Harris, on our communications team, and Vanda Lewis, on our extension team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But truly, they both were key to all of Sea Grant\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Combined, they had served the state for 67 years. Here, we share appreciations of our former colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scroll down for stories about each colleague.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
AN EYE FOR THE DETAILS: HARRIS SERVES SEA GRANT, STATE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
By Katie Mosher<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Sandra Harris arrived for her interview at NC State University in 1973, her top scores on typing and shorthand tests already had impressed her soon-to-be boss, Hardy Berry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe said: You\u2019ve got to get a start somewhere,\u201d Harris recalls with a laugh. She joined Berry in the university\u2019s information services and communications office, taking dictation and typing letters and news releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That quick start led to a strong career \u2014 and membership in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the State of North Carolina\u2019s \u201chighest honor of recognition.\u201d Signed by Gov. Roy Cooper, her certificate notes his \u201cspecial confidence in the integrity, learning and zeal\u201d of Harris, who retired in October with a total of 37 years of state service, including 23 with North Carolina Sea Grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Susan White, current Sea Grant executive director, and other directors during Harris\u2019 tenure agree with the citation. \u201cI have counted on Sandra\u2019s attention to detail,\u201d White says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Sandra’s focus on advance planning ensured that actions were completed in clear, efficient and cost-effective ways,\u201d she adds, noting that those tasks have included more than a few reminders to the management team regarding delivery deadlines for materials being shipped out, or catching grammatical errors on letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That attention \u2014 and accuracy \u2014 had been clear even early in Harris\u2019campus career. \u201cI was good at proofreading,\u201d she notes with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After taking some years away from the office to focus on her family, Harris worked for a while at Nationwide Insurance, where she always exceeded the daily quotas for her position. Despite offers to move up in the business world, she missed the atmosphere of the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She returned to campus in 1994, joining Sea Grant. B.J. Copeland was director at the time. \u201cSandra always has been very reliable. She\u2019s been very capable. She always gets her job done,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s been a really great thing for Sea Grant that she\u2019s been here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ronald Hodson succeeded Copeland as director. He recalls Harris\u2019 ability to easily adapt, be it to changes in the program\u2019s leadership, or to technology advances, such as new database software and the increasing importance of the Internet for sharing research and outreach information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like working on computers,\u201d Harris says. At times, posting text and photos for online stories was like assembling a puzzle. She also often used detective skills to track down information needed by colleagues, partners or the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always was amazed by how efficient Sandra was. She seemed to know what I was going to request, especially with posting materials online, before I asked,” says E-Ching Lee, former managing editor of Coastwatch<\/em>. “I also counted on her attention to detail. Sandra’s eagle eyes have caught many errors in our stories and products.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris enjoyed being part of the Coastwatch <\/em>team. “I like the stories about the people,” she says. Favorites include a profile of Muzel Bryant of Ocracoke, and articles on the storytellers and fish house owners of Carteret County. “I love the recipes,” she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes the work was intense. Harris played a key role in the national distribution of seafood safety manuals for a number of years. Tat effort “took over my life,” she recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2004, she was selected by NC State’s then Office of Research and Graduate Studies to move to the university level of the Award for Excellence competition. Now known as NC State’s Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, that office is administrative home for Sea Grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With expansion of her Sea Grant communication duties, Harris’ official job title was updated in 2015 to university program associate. Her duties also have included managing distribution for Coastwatch<\/em> and varied publications, and serving as a key contact for the National sea Grant Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But at a retirement reception for Harris, coworkers past and present especially wanted to note her kindness. “Her friendly nature has been an asset to the team,” Hodson says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harris had immediate plans for a special vacation with her husband. The beach has a special lure, she says. “I love walking in the sun.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A graduate of Broughton High School in Raleigh, Harris has strong ties to the community. And her days now also will have a greater family focus, in particular spending more time with her mother and 14 grandchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, she will enjoy setting her own schedule — and maybe even some time for herself. “I may renew my membership in our bowling league,” she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n