By Lakeisha Forbes, contributing writer
University Hall, Allgood Hall, and the Jaguar Student Activities Center have all been constructed since Michelle Neely began working in Augusta State’s Bookstore in 1994. For over 15 years, she has witnessed the university’s transformation, yet, in spite of the many changes that have occurred on campus, she says it is the never-changing location of the bookstore that remains a crowd pleaser.
“Although the bookstore has had an expansion in those years—and Washington Hall has been renovated, the bookstore has remained in the same location. Many alumni come into the bookstore, and while they’re happy to see how much the campus has changed, they say they are just as happy to see that the bookstore hasn’t changed much,” says Ms. Neely.
Like the campus itself, Ms. Neely’s job positions also have changed over the years. “After I applied for a job in the bookstore, I got the cashier’s position,” she says. “I was promoted to customer service, then I moved up to textbook manager. In that position, I was in charge of ordering all the textbooks for all the courses.”
In 2007, Ms. Neely was promoted to her current position, bookstore manager. As manager, she is responsible for supervising full-time and temporary staff as well as student employees. “I also serve as backup to the textbook manager, cashiers, and merchandise buyer. Whenever they are busy, I fill in,” she says.
When she is not at work, she enjoys spending quality time with her two sons, Dillon, 16, and Kane, 13. “I’m very lucky, because even though they are teenagers, they like to spend time with me. We play tennis, go bowling, go to the movies, and play putt-putt,” says Ms. Neely. “My kids are growing up; I don’t have many more years left with them, so I try and do a lot with them now,” she adds.
She says that her children are what make her the most proud, but she also takes pride in the fact that she went back to school. In 2006, she received her associate’s degree in business from Southern Wesleyan University. In 2007, she transferred to Augusta State to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I’m a junior right now, and I enjoy going to school here,” she says. “Now that I’m a student, I can relate better to the students who come into the bookstore.”
Ms. Neely expects to graduate in about two years. “I’m very excited about receiving my degree from Augusta State,” she says.
Name: Michelle Neely
How long at ASU? 15 years
Hobbies: Reading, playing tennis, jogging, and cross-stitching
Family: Sons, Dillon, 16 and Kane, 13
Pets: Franklin, a Red-Eared Slider Turtle
Jun 30, 2009
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