This month the Anderson community congratulates and bids a formal farewell to several senior-level staff whose combined service to UCLA totals 143 years. To Michael Heafey, Susan Judkins, Jackie Reynolds, Sally Stahl and David Fujioka, we say a fond goodbye and good luck.
In a video titled A Word about Michael Heafey, multiple colleagues summed up in one word each how they will best remember Anderson’s long-time building general manager, who served UCLA for nearly 38 years. Their assessments ranged from “kind” and “dependable” to “guru,” “iconic” and “Gibraltar,” and, on a more personal note, “well-dressed” and “packrat” — which a slow pan of his desk area may confirm. But if so many people at Anderson know Michael well, it’s because he wasn’t generally sequestered in his office, he was more apt to be seen attending hands-on to any number of projects and major events around the school. Many will remember above all Michael’s behind-the-scenes tours of Anderson, whose secrets he shared with the staff who avidly followed him through a maze of hallways and stairwells they might not otherwise have found.
And on the eve of his retirement, Michael has won the UCLA Distinguished Career Excellence Award. In accepting the recognition, he said, “I am overwhelmed by the support and acknowledgement on my behalf. I didn’t do this alone — I had a team. I was lucky enough to be associated with you all and hope the best for you in the future.”
Susan Judkins began her UCLA Anderson career in 1978 as an administrator in the Computers & Information Systems Research Program. She worked for the Graduate Management Admission Council from 1982 to 1995 but returned to Anderson in 1995 as the admissions and student affairs manager for the Executive MBA program. She served in that role for several years before moving to the full-time MBA program and, in 2008, she was appointed assistant dean of student affairs.
With a combined 22.5 years at Anderson behind her, Susan is known for her service to the wider UCLA community as a member of the University’s Staff Scholarships & Awards Committee and the UCLA Student Conduct Committee. She was elected president of UCLA Staff Assembly in 2003-2004 and served as UCLA's senior delegate to the system-wide Council of UC Staff Assemblies.
Sally Stahl held the position of assistant director at Anderson from 1991 to 1998 and returned in 2004 to assume responsibilities as director of MBA career advising. When she announced her retirement this year, the Parker Career Management Center reposted her LinkedIn update to its Facebook page. “With 18 years at UCLA Anderson,” Parker wrote, “we’re glad you’re finally able to enjoy retirement, Sally Stahl!” Sally had updated her employment status to “Happy Person, Retired and Loving It.” What are the duties associated with this new position? “No responsibilities at the moment,” according to Sally.
But while she was still hard at work, Sally was a great problem solver. “In all my positions my favorite part has been helping people to discover answers to their problems,” she wrote. “I enjoy being part of the process that helps people grow, discover and achieve.” She oversaw a team of advisers in the development and implementation of programs for MBA students that included customized workshops, thousands of extensive one-on-one advising sessions, and club events.
In early 2013, Jackie Reynolds, an Anderson MBA (’85), reported to the Alumni Network’s Class Notes, “After many years in central IT at UCLA, I have returned to the Anderson School as chief information officer. It’s wonderful to be back with friends and faculty from my time as an ‘XMBA’ in the 80s and to be around the amazing students that are part of the current Anderson family.”
In 2012, nominated by her colleagues, Jackie won the Frank Cofrancesco Excellence in Technology Award. She was selected by IT leadership campus-wide and recognized for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of IT at UCLA. Having started her UCLA career in 1980, Jackie was certainly welcomed back to Anderson, as supervisor Jami Jesek Carman, senior associate dean of finance and operations, attested. “After nearly 35 years, Jackie Reynolds leaves behind a strong legacy of leadership, creative energy and a passion for UCLA,” said Carman. “She has mentored countless staff and has blessed UCLA and UCLA Anderson with her indomitable will to make the campus a better place.”
For some of senior artist David Fujioka’s Anderson colleagues, “Saint David” would not be a stretch to describe him. Designer and senior publications coordinator Lark London has worked with David since before he was formally hired at Anderson in 2000. “David is like my other pair of hands,” she said. “And we share a brain, too. He’s always listening and offering up great ideas. But his most admirable quality is his temperament. He has the patience of a saint!”
David leaves with 29.5 years of combined service to UCLA, working with the marketing teams at UCLA Extension and Anderson. “He’s the faithful creative,” said Britt Benston, director of creative services for Anderson’s marketing and communications office. “David is truly a gentleman designer. It’s going to be weird when that buoyant, jovial supporting character is no longer in this production.”
These dedicated members of staff will always be part of the Anderson family. May they visit often!
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