As part of the Law Society and Aging Team, Research Coordinator Mary Manchester is contributing to substantive changes in public health and aging research. She says she is proud to be working at a public institution that serves such a diverse set of students and works closely with Atlanta communities.
When did you join the School of Public Health (month/year), and what do you enjoy about working here?
I started at the School of Public Health in June 2023 after finishing my MPH at Emory. Over the past year and a half, I have been delighted by an unfading warm welcome from everyone at the SPH. I also love my lab! We are all genuinely supportive of each other and are comfortable sharing our professional highs and lows. Academia can be intimidating and stressful, so I am truly lucky to be a part of such a superstar group. To experience a highly productive and healthy workplace early in my career has been so beneficial and sets high standards for the future.
What’s a typical workday for you like?
I like to focus my workday by listening to a Health Affairs podcast and caffeinating before jumping into writing for various projects. I’m most productive in the morning, so I like to follow a pomodoro method livestream on YouTube to make sure I am taking breaks and not sitting for too long. I share an office with the post-doctoral fellows on our team, so if we are working in person, we will take a walk outside during lunch. In the afternoon I check in with GRAs and complete any smaller tasks that come up. Afternoons are also when most of my meetings happen. Being a part of the Law Society and Aging Team with Professor Arias means that I get to collaborate with researchers across the country with numerous professional backgrounds. I learn something new every time I log into Zoom.
What about your work are you most proud of?
I’m very proud to be working at a public institution that serves such a diverse set of students and works closely with Atlanta communities. This in addition to the type of research I do is inspiring. It feels like I am contributing to substantive changes in public health and aging research. I’m also proud that I have been able to publish papers and grow my professional skills in such a short amount of time. I have become more confident in this role and have a healthy amount of nervous excitement when working on something new.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I have been doing yoga on and off for 10 years and just convinced my dad to do a 30-day yoga challenge with me over the next two months. I will keep him accountable even though he is all the way in California—with a spreadsheet and pesky phone calls. I also go to the GSU recreation center to swim laps and soak in the hot tub after. My friends are always down to walk around and yap, and we get together for dinner parties and board games often. I started keeping a puzzle on my coffee table and it has been great for hosting quieter friends and avoiding doomscrolling late at night.