Alumni Spotlights
Willie Banks
Willie Banks (M.Ed. ’95, Ph.D. ’08) serves as vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of California, Irvine, where he leads a staff of 800 full-time employees and 2,000 student workers. With more than 30 years of experience in student affairs, Banks oversees programs, facilities, activities, and services that complement the university’s academic mission while promoting student development and learning.
After earning his master’s degree in student personnel in higher education from the Mary Frances Early College of Education, Banks began his career in student affairs at UGA, serving in a variety of roles in campus life and at the Tate Student Center. After completing his Ph.D. in student affairs administration, he began working at Cleveland State University and then Indiana State University, where he served as vice president for student affairs.
Banks credits UGA with providing him the opportunities to develop his own leadership style. Among his proudest career accomplishments are the relationships he built with students and staff and the opportunity to mentor individuals who now work in the field of student affairs.
Today, Banks stays connected to the College of Education by volunteering with the alumni awards committee and giving to both the College and UGA Student Affairs.
Sandra Whaley Derrick
Sandra Whaley Derrick (B.S.H.E. ‘76, M.Ed. ‘80) is a retired family and consumer sciences educator with 30 years in Whitfield County Schools. In 2006, she was named Whitfield County Schools Teacher of the Year and has remained deeply engaged in her community through volunteer service, as well as holding mentoring and leadership roles in numerous civic and educational organizations.
A Double Dawg, Derrick credits the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s dedicated faculty and student teaching experience with preparing her for a successful career in education. As a student, she served as president of the UGA Student Home Economics Association, secretary of the Georgia Student Home Economics Association, and was active in Phi Upsilon Omicron and University Union Special Events.
Today, Derrick continues to give back to UGA through mentorship, alumni leadership, and philanthropic support. A past president of the UGA Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni Association Board of Directors, she also participates in the Give That Dawg a Bone campaign, the Presidents Club, and Third Pillar Society. She encourages today’s students to stay connected to UGA, build relationships with alumni and faculty, and give back to support future generations.
Debbie Clark
Debbie Clark (B.S.Ed. ’83, M.Ed. ’86) is currently in her forty-third year as an English/language arts teacher in the Hall County School System in Gainesville, Georgia. A graduate of the College’s Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy, her certification areas include marketing education, reading, English as a second language, and administration.
Clark began teaching in 1983 and attributes her time at UGA with preparing her for the classroom. She credits her professors with making sure she had everything she needed for a successful start. As a student, she served as an officer in the collegiate chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she developed as a leader and educator. Later in her career, she participated in a UGA-sponsored study abroad trip to Xalapa, Mexico, where she engaged in local schools’ cultural activities and took conversational Spanish classes at the University of Veracruz.
With decades of experience in the classroom, Clark considers the successes of her students to be her greatest accomplishments. She recalls receiving a message from a former student who shared that he became a middle school math teacher because of her influence. She also had the opportunity to meet President George W. Bush, who encouraged her to “not give up on our students,” a message that became her teaching motto.
In addition to her work in education, Clark enjoys writing and has published several books, including “‘Twas the Year of the World Series,” which received the 2024 National Family Choice Award, the 2024 Royal Dragonfly Book Award for Excellence in Literature, and the 2025 Purple Dragonfly Book Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature.
Laurie Barron
With three decades of experience in education, Laurie Barron (B.S.Ed. ’96) is the current superintendent of Evergreen School District in Kalispell, Montana. After graduating from UGA, she spent 17 years in Georgia—six years as a high school English teacher, two years as a middle school assistant principal, and nine years as a middle school principal—before beginning her current role in Montana. Her work and collaboration with local boards, staff, students, parents, and communities have earned her numerous awards, including Montana Superintendent of the Year (2021, 2026) and the UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award (2022). Added: Clark began teaching in 1983 and attributes her time at UGA with preparing her for the classroom. She credits her professors with making sure she had everything she needed for a successful start. As a student, she served as an officer in the collegiate chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she developed as a leader and educator. Later in her career, she participated in a UGA-sponsored study abroad trip to Xalapa, Mexico, where she engaged in local schools’ cultural activities and took conversational Spanish classes at the University of Veracruz.
As a student, Barron was active in organizations including Phi Kappa Phi, Blue Key, SPAGE, and Kappa Delta Epsilon, helping host college events, meeting with the dean, and connecting with educators beyond her major. She also studied abroad at Oxford University through UGA, an impactful experience that later inspired her to backpack through Europe while reinforcing the importance of involvement and collaboration.
A proud Georgia Bulldog, Barron rarely missed any football games as a student, and nearly 30 years later, still holds season tickets and returns for at least one game each year. She remains connected to the College of Education through her service on the Alumni Awards Committee and the Board of Visitors/Alumni Board. Barron makes yearly financial contributions to the College of Education Fund and is passionate about encouraging current students to get involved and find their place at UGA. She lives part time in an off-grid cabin in northwest Montana, sharing the woods with grizzly bears, mountain lions, moose, and wolves. Clark began teaching in 1983 and attributes her time at UGA with preparing her for the classroom. She credits her professors with making sure she had everything she needed for a successful start. As a student, she served as an officer in the collegiate chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she developed as a leader and educator. Later in her career, she participated in a UGA-sponsored study abroad trip to Xalapa, Mexico, where she engaged in local schools’ cultural activities and took conversational Spanish classes at the University of Veracruz.