In light of Dr. Viki Annand's retirement after 29 years of service to the university, we had so many great stories and anecdotes to share that we couldn't put them in one post. Here are just of few of the ways in which students, faculty and staff of the SPH as well as the wider University community will remember Dr. Annand.
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Theresa DiPaolo works in the Transfer Credit Center in the Admissions office, and worked with Dr. Annand on transcripts and transfer of credit issues, among other things.
In the video, DiPaolo recalled, "When I’m looking for help at 7:30 in the morning, I call Viki. When I’m looking for help at 7:30 in the evening, I call Viki. I think I’ll get voicemail half the time—the other half is Viki asking what I’m still doing there."
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Quite a few of the more humorous stories of Dr. Annand involve her being a bit absent-minded, including this one from Lynne Reilly, Assistant to the Dean. She recalled that part of Dr. Annand's position required her to shred confidential documents. Early one morning, when only she and Dr. Annand were in the office, Reilly heard the shredder humming along and then hears a scream.
"I thought her fingers had gone in," Reilly said, who described this entire scene while fighting back laughter.
So, Reilly goes running into her office to find Dr. Annand trying to pull a partially shredded document out of the shredder--turns out she had accidentally shredded her daughter's insurance paper work. They tried everything they could--taping it back together, lining up the pieces and then copying it--but to no avail.
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Mary Kivlighan, Assistant Dean of the SPH, described Dr. Annand as "tenacious" and "incredibly knowledgeable," and valued her institutional memory and her unwavering belief in the SPH.
“She’s been forward thinking for the School of Public Health and at the same time, protects the academics. That’s what I’ll miss the most,” Kivlighan said.
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One of the gifts Dr. Annand received at her retirement party was a pair of running shoes from Dr. Coke Farmer, who became the new Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education on July 1st. When she opened the box, Dr. Annand's eyes opened wide...
"How'd you know my size," Dr. Annand asked with surprise.
"I asked you the other day," Dr. Farmer said.
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While many of those at the retirement party had been friends of Dr. Annand's for many years, quite a few--including Dr.Jennifer Todd--were relatively new. Dr. Todd, who just recently came on to oversee the Public Health Science program at Shady Grove, had just accepted her new job and was sitting with Dean Gold when Dr. Annand entered the office.
"She was so excited," Dr. Todd remembers, "to hand over all the things she'd been working on. That was a very nice welcome to the school."
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Thanks to all those who shared their thoughts and stories on Dr. Viki Annand's career, and best wishes to Dr. Annand and her family in the future. You'll be missed.
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