Staff Spotlight: Molly Tucker

Molly Tucker, Assistant Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability, says that whether she’s partnering with individuals or organizations, her work is always evolving to meet the needs of Georgians with disabilities and their families.

When did you join the School of Public Health, and what do you enjoy about working here?
I’ve had the pleasure of working for the Center for Leadership in Disability since August of 2016. I initially joined the center during my final year of graduate school, as a social work intern and Georgia LEND trainee. Since then, I’ve served as a Community Services Specialist, Training and Advocacy Manager, and now Assistant Director. Coming from a special education and social work background, the CLD’s mission of creating practices and opportunities that “contribute to independent self-determined, and productive lives for people with disabilities and their families” is incredibly important to me. I love that my job allows me to collaborate internally, within the School of Public Health, and externally with partners and community members to help bring that mission to life.

What’s a typical workday for you like?
Truthfully, there is no such thing as a “typical” day for employees of a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)! We are sponsor funded and so our scope of work is always changing to better meet the needs of Georgians with disabilities and their families. My role within the center focuses on workforce capacity building, meaning that I aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of educators and providers who work with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I am often traveling across the state to provide in-person trainings or collaborating with state agencies and community organizations to solve systems-level problems, such as how to increase the use of positive behavior supports to address behaviors.

What about your work are you most proud of?
I serve as the director of the My Voice. My Participation. My Board. program, which prepares individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to serve on boards of directors and advisory councils. Whenever I see one of our alumni using their voice to speak up for themselves or their community, I am just filled with pride. Our alumni are phenomenal self-advocates, and knowing I played a small part in their journey towards employment, board membership, or greater independence is why I continue to do this work.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
Reading! I love reading books filled with magical realism and a little mystery. Extra points if it’s based in the U.K.!