Stacked Keys Podcast
The idea to talk to women who are out there living and making a difference is where the Stacked Keys Podcast was born. There are women who make a difference, but never make a wave while paddling through life. Immediately I can think of a dozen or more who impacted me, but I want more. I want to talk to those I don't know and I want to share with an audience that might need the inspiration to find their own beat. This podcast is to feature women who are impressive in the work world-- or in raising a family -- or who have hobbies that can make us all be encouraged. Want to hear what makes these women passionate and get up in the morning or what they wish they had known earlier in life? Grab your keys and STOMP to your own drum.
Stacked Keys Podcast
Episode 205 -- Maria Bowie -- Bridging Gaps in Agriculture
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Maria Bowie, a trailblazer in agriculture and public health, shares her inspiring journey, marked by 26 years at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension until she began a new career at Clemson in 2025 as the Director of the new ECHO- Extension Center for Health Outreach. Her passion for mentoring women in agriculture shines through as she discusses the importance of supporting one another in a field traditionally dominated by men. Maria dives deep into the unique challenges rural communities face, touching on food insecurity, transportation access, and the need to translate academic research into practical solutions. Her story is not just one of professional success but also personal growth, highlighting how her rural background and experiences have been instrumental in bridging gaps between policymakers and citizens.
Maria's career evolution is nothing short of remarkable, transitioning from environmental education to a pivotal role in public health. She candidly talks about the personal tragedy in 2010 that reshaped her life and career, leading her to pursue a doctorate and focus on health-related issues. A chance encounter at a national conference steered her toward a leadership role at Clemson University's Center for Rural Health, and as she prepares to retire, Maria is excited to fulfill her dream of living by the water. Her reflections on navigating career changes, embracing failures, and balancing family life offer profound insights into resilience and perseverance.
Listeners are treated to heartfelt discussions on facing fears, parenting, and the power of gratitude. Maria opens up about the challenges of new professional roles, the complexities of parenting, and finding joy amidst life's trials. The episode closes with reflections on retirement, the importance of collaboration, and ongoing projects focused on rural health. Through laughter, occasional tears, and genuine conversations, Maria's story encourages us all to embrace life's transitions with grace and gratitude, illustrating that beautifully surviving life is a journey worth celebrating.
Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff
Women in Agriculture and Public Health
Speaker 1I'm walking all alone down my yellow brick road and I stomp to the beat of my own drum. I got my pockets full of dreams and they're busting at the seams going boom, boom, boom.
Speaker 2Welcome to Stacked Keys Podcast. I'm your host, amy Stackhouse. This is a podcast to feature women who are impressive in the work world or in raising a family, or who have hobbies that make us all feel encouraged. Want to hear what makes these women passionate to get up in the morning, or what maybe they wish they'd known a little bit earlier in their lives.
Speaker 1Grab your keys and stomp to my own drum. Whatever you do, it ain't nothing on me, cause I'm doing my thing and I hold the key to all my wants and all my dreams Like an old song everything will be all right.
Speaker 2Well, today's a great day and I am looking forward to our guest and kind of diving in. I'd like to introduce the audience to Maria Bowie. Welcome, maria, thank you Glad to be here. Well, I'm excited, so, right out of the gate let's go. Let's talk about how do people know you, both personally and professionally. How do they know?
Speaker 3Maria. Well, I think you know people know me as somebody who just likes to be around others. I'm pretty outgoing and I really like working with people and finding out what makes them tick. You know, what is it about life that they enjoy doing? What can we do together to maybe help one another? I think it's really important for women especially, to look out for each other. I work in the agricultural field and there are more and more of us, but for so many years it's definitely a man-dominated field, so I always try to find ways to mentor and encourage other women that I'm working with, whether they're early in their career or later. I think we all just benefit from looking out for each other and finding ways that we can help each other be successful.
Speaker 2Oh, yeah, so the ag field that is broad. So the minute you say it I have images come up, but I'm not sure what being in the ag field means.
Speaker 3So I have been working with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension for about 26 years. I started my career as a 4-H agent working with young people but I'm currently working in grant management. But Cooperative Extension is the outreach arm from Land-Grant University in each state and we do a lot to help support farm families, homeowners, consumers anything from financial literacy type information to you know how to grow a healthy garden, how to help farmers be financially viable in today's really competitive market, and then also definitely trying to find opportunities for young people to build citizenship and leadership skills. So Extension does a lot of different types of things but really the purpose and mission is to translate the research that happens on campuses all over the country into a practical, useful way and also be responsive to what types of problems and concerns people are finding within their communities that the university can kind of dig into and see you know what the root causes are and how we can work together to address some of those challenges facing our world today.
Speaker 2So do you find that sometimes it's even more challenging to earn your voice Because you've got farmers that have done it for generation after generation, and so do you find that a challenge at times.
Speaker 3At times definitely, and I think it depends on where you are. A challenge at times At times definitely, and I think it depends on where you are. I think that that conversation has definitely evolved over time, but it depends on the audience and how you carry yourself to. You know, having a graduate degree definitely has helped and you know that does open doors and opportunities in ways that other things don't. But also just work experience and meeting people where they are.
Speaker 3Being from a rural community, I think has helped me in my career because a lot of the work that we do is really targeted to the needs and challenges that those rural communities face, and so it has given me a different perspective rural communities face and so it has given me a different perspective, and I think it does help open that conversation and kind of keep it ongoing, because it does affect who I am as a person.
Speaker 3It definitely has made me have a passion for the unique challenges that rural communities face and you know what kinds of things we need to do to be responsive and to also just find things that are practical. A lot of the projects that we work on get funding from big organizations like the CDC or the USDA and sometimes they just don't always understand. You know what some of the realities are on a local level, what some of the realities are on a local level. Some of the projects that I've worked on address food insecurity and access to healthy foods and places to exercise, and they'll want us to go into communities and say, oh well, just can't you just have people walk, you know, to school and walk to the store? And you know, unfortunately that's really just not realistic. For a lot of the more rural areas they're not sidewalks. That really just not realistic. For a lot of the more real areas they're not sidewalks that connect, especially once you get outside of the city proper.
Speaker 2So just helping build those bridges and build understanding between policymakers and citizens on a local level and what we can do to help bridge that gap is kind of been a sweet spot for me, career wise. Yeah, wow, I've heard a lot about food insecurity lately and Alabama being one of those states that has pretty high numbers, and it's shocking. Do you, in handling it or addressing it I guess handling it is not a good way to phrase that, but in addressing it, do you find that you get more and more frustrated or do you feel like you're finding some answers along the way?
Speaker 3I think that people are getting, you know, more creative with what we do to help meet that need. Some audiences in particular face things that are really challenging, like a lack of access to transportation. The pandemic really exposed some huge weaknesses, I think, in our overall food distribution system, and so I've served on the Athens Area Council on Aging for many years and we saw right away that I mean food access for seniors, senior citizens, has always been a big issue, but in particular they were, you know, really hard to reach and you know we saw a lot of citizens really mobilize and volunteer to help distribute groceries and meals to those folks who couldn't get out and shop or who didn't have access. You know that's just one small example.
Speaker 3But on a systems level, extension has been doing work in this space for quite a while through some federally funded programs from the USDA, like the Expanded Food Education Nutrition, expanded Nutrition Education Program, expanded Food I can't even say it, we love acronyms and extension, but basically it's a program where we have extension agents and program assistants who provide educational programming that complement access to the SNAP benefits that low-income individuals are able to benefit from, and so, especially around like metro Atlanta, there are a lot of what we call food deserts and we have a number of mobile food.
Speaker 3They call it the mobile. It's like mobile farmer's market, where they'll load up vehicles with all this fresh produce and take it to different distribution sites, do a quick lesson that has a recipe using the products that are being distributed, and then they're able to use their SNAP benefits to get you know really high quality, local, fresh produce that they can then take and use you know however they need. So that's just a couple of examples, but we definitely have a long way to go. I feel like it's kind of an evolving, ongoing conversation that is important to be aware of and be mindful of when we're working within our communities to help just provide what some of their basic needs are.
Speaker 2Yeah, Well, and you said something about COVID and it kind of showing you some some issues along the way. That's probably been true in lots of aspects of your job. In 26 years you probably never saw anything like that before.
Speaker 3Oh for sure, and my doctorate is in public health, which I finished in 2020. So an interesting time to be in the field, because a lot of people really just didn't even understand what public health was, and so it did really, I think, build people's awareness of the importance of kind of taking a systems view of our health overall. But it did definitely like just bring attention to so many of the issues that that we were facing, because the university and, you know, most of our government systems basically shut down for quite some time. So we really had to rethink how we were meeting the public and what kinds of things could we modify and do to continue to provide information, answer questions, that sort of thing. So a lot of our extension educators and agents began doing online programming.
Speaker 3We had been doing a little bit of it previously, but it really forced our organization to rethink how we communicate and how we serve the public that we're here to serve. So it has definitely, I think, helped modernize us as an organization and we've learned a lot and have continued to grow out a lot of the different channels and avenues that we use to educate and communicate our stakeholders.
Speaker 2Yeah, Is this where you thought you'd be career-wise and when you started out? I mean, you've been in it for a lot of years.
Speaker 3Yeah, definitely Probably not my undergrad. When I went to the University of Georgia, I majored in recreation resource management and I thought I would probably be a park ranger or maybe working in environmental education, which I did briefly. But once I got into extension I was really able to kind of hone out my carve out, my niche, and a wonderful thing about working with the university is they provide tuition assistance for us to go back and get graduate degrees. So I was able to complete my master's in public administration while I was working at Rock Eagle as the marketing director for environmental. Ed Did that for quite a while, worked in marketing and communications for about 15 years and I enjoyed it, but I found myself just kind of getting bored. I didn't really love it. I didn't feel like it was my true calling and I had some personal situations that happened.
Speaker 3My sister and her family, or her son and husband, were killed in an accident in 2020, in 2010, and we wound up getting my niece, who was 11 at the time. He came and we raised her, and going through a tragedy, tragedy like that really is just so eye-opening. I think I came out of it so grateful just to still be alive and have life left and you know, to be able to make a difference in what I'm doing, and so I did a little soul searching, talked with some of my mentors and leaders at the university and they really encouraged me to consider going back and getting my doctorate. And when I was trying to decide what to do it in public health, it just seemed like such a good fit between my personal interest and my want to, you know, try to do something that could help move the needle a little bit as far as like behavior change goes. So I was fortunate to be able to complete my doctorate while I was working full time raising three kids. So it was crazy, but I was really fortunate that my husband was super supportive and I always told him if I was going to go back and get my doctorate.
Speaker 3I wanted to make sure I started by the time I was 40. And we live here in Athens, so you know it doesn't get any easier. As far as just the proximity, even then I started in 2016, and there were not as many online options available back then as there are now. But having the proximity to campus, the opportunity to do my research as part of my work, was just an incredible blessing that I'm really grateful for.
Speaker 3And since I finished my doctorate, my focus changed a bit. At work, I focused more on helping bring in grant dollars to address health-related issues, so the last few years I've focused on emergency preparedness, opioid misuse prevention, vaccine, education and what other thing I think rural and farm stress, and so those projects really have been difficult projects, but we've learned a lot as an organization about what some of the really especially the mental health challenges that folks are facing, particularly in rural areas, are really difficult to deal with. But there is hope and there are resources out there, and just trying to help build awareness and expand access to those types of things is something that I've spent a lot of time on.
Speaker 2Wow, go ahead, you are busy.
Speaker 3Yeah, I mean it's good, though it's good to be busy, I wouldn't want to get bored, you know. Wow, well, I did want it. So my career path has changed a little bit recently because I attended the national health outreach conference, um, up in greenville, south carolina, in may and while I was there at the opening session my boss was sitting beside me and we were presenting, you know like later in the day and they were talking about so Clemson was the host for that, clemson University, and they have really invested a lot in rural health and nutrition at Clemson and across South Carolina and they are in the process of creating a new center for an extension center for health outreach. So while we were there they were talking about hiring a director for the center and they were recruiting for it even had a position description. So when I checked in for the conference and got my name tag the Clemson recruitment people had a table set up with all their you know, lovely orange swag and I literally just walked over there to talk to them and kind of give them a hard time and see what kind of free stuff they had.
Speaker 3And I think my name tag said DRPH and they're like oh, you're a public health doctor and I was like, well, yeah, and they said we're, we're recruiting for this position. You ought to check it out. And when I read it I was like, wow, this is like everything I've ever done as far as like professionally, and I was super interested. So I looked into it, and when they were talking about it at the opening session, I leaned over to my boss and I was like I should probably apply for that. He said, well, maybe you should, and I don't think he thought I was serious, but I was. So, you know, I put myself out there, went through the interview process. It was long, any time a faculty position like that and leadership role kind of many layers of that type of search process.
Speaker 3But I have given my notice to the University of Georgia that I'll be retiring at the end of this year and I've accepted the position of director of the clem, the new clemson center for rural health. So I'll be starting there january 1st, and we're in the process of selling our house in athens. We're under contract for a house near clemson, on lake hartwell, though. So I love the fact that y'all are on the lake, because you get the lake thing. That's been just a lifelong dream that we've always wanted to be on the water, and so, like just God's opening so many doors for us right now for us to really kind of be able to go to that next phase of life, and we're super excited and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to relocate. Our kids are 19, 21 and 25. So they're pretty independent out of the house, in school or just out of school. But they're excited for us so that's change happening.
Speaker 2That is a lot of change, but it's like everything's kind of built upon itself. So so when you look back, do you go, have I wasted time? I mean, is that, does that cross your mind?
Speaker 3No, I mean, I just think we've always been. I feel like God had us where we were supposed to be. You know like I feel like our family needed the stability of being in Athens. My in-laws were here, my parents live about an hour away and we really leaned on them, especially when the kids were younger, in ball and dance and you know something different every day after school.
Speaker 3And the university has been such a good, stable work environment for me and given me a lot of opportunities to grow and learn and kind of expand my network. And my husband works for a small business in Athens and they're very invested in us as a family. They had their profit sharing dinner Friday night and both of the owners came up and gave me a hug and congratulated me, you know, and us for this move, because my husband's planning to commute for a while at least to sort of see how that goes. But yeah, I don't see what I mean. I feel like we've been able to just kind of grow where we are and our kids we're super proud of, so it's been great.
Speaker 2Well, you've done a lot of balancing. You've balanced career. You've balanced education furthering career. You've balanced raising family, having spouse. How do you do that? How do you find your balance, or is there such a thing?
Speaker 3Well, I mean, I think it fluctuates based on so many different things, I think phase of life, time of year. I practice yoga and that has been a huge part, I think, of just helping keep me grounded. We also are really active in our church and had a fantastic small group. We go to Nations Church. We love that. It's just up to what. We can ride our bikes there from our house here, which is another thing we really love about it. But it's a super diverse congregation that just really looks like the rest of Athens, which we love that.
Speaker 3And our small group has just been an amazing support system for us. They pray for us and we pray for them, and our small group has just been an amazing support system for us. They pray for us and we pray for them, and it's been great just to be around other Christian couples that really do have a heart for serving others, loving God, really kind of setting out to be the people, and they're super genuine too. Sometimes when we talk to our kids about it genuine to like. You know, sometimes when we talk to our kids about it, they were like, oh, sort of skeptical because the church that we had been to years ago was a little bit more like huge sort of you know who you were and who you I don't know, but this congregation has really poured life into us and we've we've definitely loved being a part of it.
Speaker 2So the idea of fill your own cup is something that you would buy into.
Speaker 3Yes, and I think you know serving others is a big part of that too. So you know being able to be open to God's plan for us, I think there were definitely phases of life where you know being able to be open to God's plan for us. I think there are definitely phases of life where you know it's just kind of put the head down, forge ahead, pedal on the metal. Not a lot of time for ourselves. But one thing we've always done is every year we go, we take a trip for our anniversary. So even when the kids are young, my parents or Brent's parents would watch them.
Speaker 3We take a trip for our anniversary. So even when the kids are young, my parents or Brent's parents would, would watch them and we would, you know, even if we just went camping or you know, sometimes we go to the beach, sometimes we take a bigger trip. It was just so good to get away together and kind of reconnect and just dream together too. You know that was when we say, oh, we want to be on the water someday. How are we going to make that happen?
Speaker 2Well, it's right. I mean sometimes the conversations you know in parenting, you'll hear people say, go out but don't talk about the kids at all, or go do something and reconnect with just each other. But if you can go away, you have time for all those conversations. Right, yeah, because it's not to me, it it was never realistic. I've got to catch you up on what I know about this kid, that kid and the other, and then you know can kind of it. It's a process, though, so you've actively invested, um did, was that just something that you guys came across on your own of? This is what we need to do, or did you kind of have pretty good role models, or I think.
Speaker 3But our, my parents, especially um, encouraged us to take time away together. I didn't really see them modeling as much when we were growing up, but you know, I think they just didn't think they had the time or the money. But they saw, you know, especially as we became young parents, how important it was to give us that chance to have some space and time just together.
Speaker 2So yeah, what do you think the difference is between wishing and realizing your dreams?
Speaker 3wishing and realizing your dreams. Wow, that's a great question and I think a lot of people get stuck in that. Oh, I wish, I wish you know kind of mindset I think for us realizing has definitely been willing to work hard for it, being willing to ask for opportunities to, you know, to seek out ways that have helped us grow and evolve over time. I've also had some incredible mentors that have encouraged me and given me opportunities me and given me opportunities.
Less Is More
Speaker 3It hadn't always been easy, but it has been really important to me to have strong women in my life that have looked out for me and helped me kind of find my way. But, you know, if I was falling off too bad, they could kind of help redirect, you know, and they weren't afraid to speak up if they saw something that they thought, you know, and they weren't afraid to speak up if they saw something that they thought, you know maybe wasn't healthy for me. So, you know, I think that has been a big part of where I find myself now is being able to ask for those opportunities, to look out for them, to be open to them and not be afraid to take the risk. You know, they haven't always panned out great. You know, sometimes we learn a lot more from our failures than we do from our successes. And it does grow us and help build our character.
Speaker 2Well, building character. That can be painful. You mentioned the word failures and I've been in some conferences and had some discussions lately where people talk about, you know, loving failure and I just I cringe with that because I'm like failure, I can't stand to fail, I'm a perfectionist and to fault. So what does the word failure bring up in you?
Speaker 3Well, you know, I think it's something that a lot of people struggle with, but I think it it gives you the space to understand what really matters. You know to, to chalk it up as life experience. You know you're not, you're not always going to come out ahead. So being able to also, um, accept defeat with grace and trying to have just a grateful spirit and looking for ways, looking for the things to be thankful for. I keep a journal that I try to write in every day. I'm not as good about it as I want to be, but just it's my gratitude journal. I always try to have, like my praises, what I'm grateful for and then what my prayers are. I always try to have, like my praises, what I'm grateful for and then what, what my prayers are, and I like to write it down and and I have a bunch of them kind of different places all over the house, and sometimes I'll pull them out and look at things that I had written years before.
Speaker 3When you know our youngest, who is now 19 and just doing so. Well, you know, there was a phase in life when, like when he was in middle school, it was just such a struggle. I mean, he wound up doing great, but middle school was just so hard. It was such a journey for us and for him. And I look back now and I'm like, wow, that's made him into such a just determined, ambitious young man. But we had some rough years there that you know were long, but now it feels like they just flew right by.
Speaker 2Yeah Well, and it's hard to see it when you're in the middle of it, and so to be able to go back and reflect it does show you, oh, wow. And then sometimes I wish for what I thought was difficult, because what I'm in is more difficult than what it was. So I kind of get that. Well, how do you teach your kids those same principles, or do you think maybe you have?
Speaker 3Well, I mean, I think that you know they've seen us through a lot of different changes and phases of life. We really just try to be open and honest with them, encourage them to ask lots of questions, to come to us and talk to us when they've got something on their mind Some of them are better than others about that but just trying to be genuine with them and honest and say, you know, maybe we don't have the money to do this that you're asking for right now, or, you know, come back in another few months and we'll revisit that and just trying to focus on spending time together. You know, our older son is supposed to bring his girlfriend over for supper tonight, and so we're really looking forward just to spending some time with him and getting to know her better and then just taking time as a family. We always get together with my husband's mom and brother and his family. Every Labor Day we take a lake trip and go somewhere together, and it's always fun just to see them hanging out with their cousins.
Speaker 2And spending some time together as family has always been something we've prioritized well, and this move is going to happen at holidays, so do you have holiday traditions? That have been. You know something that you've done for the last 26 years.
Speaker 3Yeah, yeah, we always get together for Thanksgiving. We kind of rotate between going to my parents or Brent's mom's, or sometimes we'll host here. So we'll be at Brent's mom's, for I wanted to have it here, but we were in the process. We're like, oh, it could be under contract, we may be moving. So we decided to, you know, not take that on. Um, yeah, and then for christmas.
Speaker 3We almost always are here for christmas, so it's going to be the first christmas. We haven't ever, you know, been in our house, so that's going to definitely be different. But we're excited about, you know, being on the, the lake in the new house for the next um holiday and all the things that that might look like. It will look different, but yeah.
Speaker 2Well, as kids get older, they they kind of nevermind coming to the lake and they don't bring their friends and you know it's just kind of you become this. We were a revolving door for so many years of in the sports and you know who, all the kids coming through and and I miss that so much yeah you come to the lake and they start coming through in a different way, but they still, and they, they still rotate through.
Speaker 2So, um well, when, if you ever hear people talk about, um, having less is more is, is that kind of a philosophy that you might buy into?
Speaker 3Definitely, and I saw a book that came across somewhere that I ordered on Amazon last night. That was about how to simplify your life. I think that you know, especially now that we're getting ready to move, I'm just like, oh, we have so much stuff that we just don't need All of us do and so I'm really trying to be careful about what we're going to take with us because, you know, these things can be donated and used by other people who can use them. Less is definitely more, especially the older we get. It's less about stuff and more about quality time and doing things together and exploring and traveling and just keeping your mind open to what helps you feel connected to others.
Speaker 2Well, you know, sometimes having less allows you the opportunity to enjoy what you do have. It all doesn't get in the way. I did a closet clean out not long ago and it is amazing how much quicker I can put the clothes away because I'm not having to like shove this stuff over here. And, you know, always have the intent to keep like things together, but there was so much I couldn't, couldn't do that.
Speaker 2And so it really has changed just that habit. Becca has a closet clean out trick She'll turn the hanger around, and if after a year that hanger is not turned back around, oh, that's brilliant.
Speaker 2All right, I'm going to try that Now. If she ever comes and helps you to do it, she also will come check. So I told her younger sister the other day. I said, hey, you've got just a month or so before. You better go switch some clothes around or they're gone. And so she was like, oh yeah, that's right. So so just warning on that. So well, you know, it can seem like you've just got it all together, you've just checked the boxes, you've wanted to do this and you've just done it. And where do you go when you have a problem?
Speaker 3Usually I'll talk to my husband or friends. A lot of times my mom. She's still really close and call and kind of talk through it with her, and that's always really helpful. Sometimes I'll just pray about it too, yeah.
Speaker 2So you talked about having that friend group. Do you have friends that you've had all your life?
Speaker 3Not really. I mean, like I have one friend from high school I've kept in touch with, but you know we don't really talk very often and I'm away from where I grew up, so that's not really been the same. But I do have several friends from college that I've kept in touch with. One of them is in Kennesaw. That she's she's really close. And then I have one in Australia that you know we just talk on Facebook from time to time and whenever she's here we always try to get together. But I kind of have a handful that I'm close to, but I tend to focus on just a couple deep friendships rather than a lot of looser connections.
Speaker 2Deep friendships rather than a lot of looser connections. Yeah Well, you know you, you've worked in academics, you've worked in an office, you've worked out in the field, you've worked in so many different groups. How do you, how do you, juggle those relationships?
Speaker 3I think, just, you know, making the time to check in on folks. Some of the newer faculty that I've worked with I've tried to just go meet for coffee and say how are you doing, what's your plan, how can I help? You know, I always try to encourage people to get a mentor or be a mentor. You know, I think it's really important to have those relationships with people that you really trust and you can turn to when you have a sticky problem.
Speaker 3Academics can be a really competitive work environment, and so you need to know who your friends are and who you can count on to get that publication outdoor, you know, or whatever you're working on.
Speaker 3So I think that has been a really important part of my professional development and just growth as a person too, because we spend more time at work than we do, you know, anywhere else, and so being able to, you know, feel confident and comfortable there is, I think, really really important and also encouraged and happy. So I really try to seek out and create that safe workspace, positive energy, synergy, looking for those ways that we can do more together and just enjoy it while we're at it. You know, I think when I was doing my presentation for Clemson I outlined sort of what my goals were and then at the end I was like you know, we want to have fun. Life's too short not to enjoy what you're doing. I think it's really important that we have fun together working as a team. And they kind of laughed. But I thought, you know I really I'm serious. I mean, I like to have fun. I think it's really a valuable part of the work environment.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's interesting that you say that, because sometimes, as an entrepreneur and being kind of, you know you're solo a lot of times I can go a whole day or week and not really interact with somebody. And sometimes, when you hear all the little contests and things that are going on in offices or little parties, it's like what, why aren't y'all just working? And so I find myself. But then I remember I was in the financial world for a while and I mean, halloween was a big thing. I remember painting myself blue and going to work as a smurf. So, granted, I was in my 20s. But you know, do we lose some of that as we get too focused? It's just kind of sometimes I wonder.
Speaker 3Yeah, Well, it's funny because for Halloween there are a bunch of people in my building dressed up and it was super cute. I mean, I didn't, but one of the girls that I worked with brought hats and we all took a picture together. You know like it's fun and we do little things like a Christmas tree door decoration competition where people decorate their doors, and it's fun, Keeps it light.
Speaker 2You know everyone doesn't participate, but most people do yeah, and if they don't, they kind of laugh or move on. But yeah, but my husband in his work world, um a lot of times they, his staff, kind of gets on to him and says we don't celebrate, we had a big win, we had a big oh yeah, you gotta take it, you're like okay next and like after a while, that kind of you're gonna savor that success.
Speaker 2That's important for team morality yeah, how do you know when you you've made it, when you have a success?
Speaker 3oh, you know, I think you just it's like you feel so fulfilled, you know, especially as a more intrinsic kind of motivation. You know, when someone just reaches out and says thank you, wow, this is making a difference, or you did so much to help me, or look at what's happening now, you know it's exciting and I think it's, it's so rewarding to be able to feel like you're part of something larger and, um, to have that sense of, of engagement and just, you know, it gives you a, really makes you proud to see when the pieces fall together like they're supposed to. And you know, a lot of times it goes away further than you even could have ever imagined and I think that's so much of that. It's just divine intervention. You know you just gotta sometimes get out of the way and let the work happen like it's supposed to.
Speaker 2Yeah, sometimes it's the getting out of the way that that's. That's tough. We talked a minute ago about you know, finding people that you trust. How do you know that you can trust someone?
Self-Care and Personal Growth
Speaker 3Well, I think that just typically takes time. You know, the more that you have an opportunity to get to know them, work together, spend some time together in and out of the office. Those are the kinds of things that kind of build on each other and you're able to sort of get a sense of you know, transparency and I think just laying it out and being honest and say this is what is important to me you know what are your priorities, how can we help one another? And um and I had a recent experience with one of my colleagues that was really surprisingly. Um had gone on a hurricane relief um trip kind of nearby but still over towards Augusta and I was on the way home and got this email from a colleague that just really took me. It just took the wind out of my sails.
Speaker 3I hadn't had something like that happen in a really long time and I had really upset a colleague by accident. It was just totally inadvertent, it was not intentional, but I took it really hard. You know it's hard to hear that. You know someone thought that I had just really wronged them and it took me a while to try to mend that fence and say you know, I'm really sorry, I apologize, like this is not intentional at all and just to try to make up that ground has been hard, but it's also made me stop and think. You know, am I being sensitive? Am I making sure that I'm, you know, looking out for the people in my life that are important to me and that I want to help and not get in their way? So, you know, definitely important to be in tune with those life lessons.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, well, and I guess to have a check every now and then you know to where you can go. Okay, I am right, I am wrong, maybe I could so do you self-talk.
Speaker 3Yeah, I guess I do some of that. I wouldn't have said that probably a while back, but now I feel like, yes, I do try to, you know, find ways to check in with myself and think through maybe, how I responded to a situation or, you know, kind of psych myself up for, um, what might be a difficult day with, whether it's meetings or, you know, things that I need to really be productive on. So I do, I do, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2Well, you talked about being involved in yoga. Was that something that you just came across and went I'll try this, and then it's become something you rely on now.
Speaker 3I had started practicing in probably around 2009. And after my sister and her family passed away, when I came back to the office, I just knew how important it was that I needed to carve out that time for myself, and so I've locked it on my calendar. At lunch and I told our staff. I said you know, please don't schedule things during lunch that you need me to be at, because I know that I need to do this for myself and my mental well-being and my physical well-being, and so I would try to. You know, have done it as much as I want to of late, but I know that I'll make sure that I'm making it a party and get back into it. I also really like to just spend time outside. I walk the dog a lot and we, brent and I, really enjoy biking, so just being outside is really important for my state of mind. I think the connection with nature is is just essential for, you know, lifting my spirits, yeah.
Speaker 2Well, you know, over the years, self-care has been elevated, it's been then shunned, and then women have been said to be selfish. If they're doing that, then it's come back up. So where do you stand there?
Speaker 3I think self-care is really important and I think, especially as professional women, we have to make that time. We've earned that time, we deserve it. We need to invest in ourselves, and I think you know, however, that whatever shape or form that takes is different for different people. I really like to get pedicures. I don't do it as often as I like to, but when I go, I'm like yes, that was the right thing to do at this point today.
Speaker 2So I never regret it.
Speaker 2Right. Right, If you regret it, you might should check what you're, what you're doing, but when you don't regret it, it's the only I mean, the biggest regret might be why don't I do this more often? Anytime I go get a massage, that's, that's like like I let this slide and then I know, because they're fairly expensive, but but it's like I got caught in one of those memberships one time and and I would literally have so many stacked up because I would put it off, and then it was like all right, and I'll use these. So maybe I need to revisit that. So what's your definition of strong? I know you've come across strong women forging through the career that you've been doing, and I can define you as strong myself. So what would your definition be?
Speaker 3I think strong people have a lot of vision and are resilient and transparent and genuine. I just think strong people have a determination and believe in themselves and are able to really encourage the people around them. I think that that, to me, is really what makes people strong, what do you think you'll always need help with?
Speaker 3What do I need help with? I mean, there are lots of things I feel like I need help with, um. I think making sure that we're staying connected, um, on a spiritual level is super important, and so I always want to prioritize our spiritual life, um, and so I always want to prioritize our, our spiritual life. I'll always feel like we want to have positive, deep friendships that help us grow, and I think that that is something we'll always want to have help from people that we trust and that can embody the values that we feel like are important do you think that our daily actions kind of add up and become who we really are?
Speaker 3yeah, I do. I think that who you are is reflected in what you do every day, every week, and over time it does um really kind of carve out who you are.
Speaker 2What's the scariest thing you have ever done?
Speaker 3Probably interviewing for this job at Clemson. Yeah, I think it was pretty scary, I mean. But once I got into it it was sort of fun, you know. It was sort of like just getting there was a major accomplishment. And then by the time I was on campus interviewing in person, I said you know, I put myself out here I may as well. By the time I was on campus interviewing in person I said you know, I put myself out here I may as well do the best I can and so, but it never. I was nervous, but good, nervous, you know, it wasn't like I was totally freaked out. Um, the scariest thing I've ever done.
Speaker 2But you're talking about that, I mean, goodness, a lot of people could say, all right, I'm good, the people know me here, I'm not having to earn my my way anymore. I mean that is kind of scary to go. Okay, I am super qualified for this. But you know, there comes some, some newness to it.
Speaker 3That yeah, I mean mean, now that you say it, I am kind of I'm like it is going to be learning a different institution for sure and, like I know, they have a totally different way of doing things. So I'm like I'm going to be asking for lots of help to learn that.
Speaker 2You have to change your wardrobe. You don't get to wear red and black.
Speaker 3I've been ordering the orange and purple. Yeah, bring it on. It's much more in my color wheel than red and black, so I'm okay with it that's funny, my husband said they don't ever try to get me to cheer for Clemson, that's not gonna happen yeah yeah, just be quiet when you're on those game days.
Speaker 2Um, but that that scary. Well, what, aside from that I mean, was parenting scary for you?
Speaker 3Oh yeah, and with three it was definitely complex, I think when we had our niece come live with us too, I was so worried about her and making sure that, like she had what she needed. And then the boys were five and seven then and she was 11. So you know, just being there for them as they grew up and trying to find time for each of them was often hard, because a lot of times it wound up that Emily and I would do something and Brent would take the boys, and so you know the time that we had together as a family. I think it was really important, but then sometimes they were fighting and it's just like party of five is always a little bit awkward to like to sit in the restaurant and to fit in the car, all of those things.
Speaker 2But yeah, when you didn't grow into it. It was just all of a sudden you have a.
Speaker 3Yeah, yeah, it was interesting and you know, know, I think we would question ourselves, but we really kind of had to choose our battles with, with with the youngest one especially. He was just really a challenge. He was um adhd and just always struggled in school, and so you know, we had to try to find ways to simulate him in environments that he could feel successful in, that weren't necessarily sitting behind a desk, yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, those can be scary. What would you tell a young mom from your perspective?
Speaker 3Oh, my gosh. I see him all the time and I say, yeah, you're in the thick of it and you're just like getting through the day. Just know that it does get easier. You know it may get harder before it gets easier, but you're not going to believe how quick your kids are going to grow up and be talking with you like an adult and you'll be so proud to see them, you know, graduate and go to college and get married and just become these productive young adults. It's just really a fun time to see. But I try to tell young moms too, I'm like, especially if they're working, you know, find those people who bring you joy and build your strength, because you need to lean in and have those friends that you know you can call. You got a sick kid, can't go pick them up. You know you need to know that you can call on someone that can do that for you, that you trust and that can really, you know, help you out of a bind.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah. Well, if you could change one habit or one thing that you do, what would it be?
Speaker 3Oh goodness, I probably should drink less wine. Yeah Well, yeah, but I, I just want to be more active too, and I know how important, you know, being fit is and eating well. I think the combination of the three of those I got to prioritize better as we make this change, so determined to make that happen. I know how to do it, I have the tools Right, right, and I feel like it's really important that I'm like setting a good example in this new leadership role as the director of the Center for Health Outreach. I feel like I want to be a good role model for the staff and the folks that I'm working with.
Speaker 2Yeah, well, yeah, then it becomes part of your career balance as well. Wow, welcome to some new pressure. If there was something that you could really out loud, shout something out loud, let me. Let me say that again If you could shout something out really loudly, what would you say? What would be the box you get on?
Speaker 3I think being grateful for the blessings that we have is so important because it brings that perspective of wow, look at all the things we do have and the things we've been blessed with. You know. Just that sense of gratitude and thankfulness is something that really can permeate and come through in so many different ways. So I think living with a life of gratitude is just a sweet place to be and I hope that others find joy. Being able to have that sense of peace and thankfulness is just really restorative for me and I hope that others will find that. Yeah, what brings them to that point?
Speaker 2Have you ever found yourself in a mean girls kind of group or situation or be targeted?
Speaker 3Yes, we do have a few of those. You know that. You know you have to just watch out for that. I think you know especially people who are earlier into their careers face that a little bit more as you age out and then I guess it sort of comes back around to you know, like later in life you sort of are a little bit wise enough to know if that's the situation you're getting in. But they are out there, and knowing helping people grow through that too is, I think, important.
Speaker 3You know, I've worked with a number of younger people and it might seem fun in the minute, but if you help them think about, you know, it may be funny to laugh at that person behind their back. But what good are you really doing? What kind of example are you setting for the people who are watching you, you know. So I think it's important to be kind and to try to really just be the kind of person that you want others to be to you. You know, treat people with that respect and kindness and dignity that you expect in return, and it always comes around in a meaningful way.
Speaker 2Yeah, so as you make this transition, is there a way that you close one chapter as you open the next, or does it just kind of evolve and just flow into the next?
Speaker 3Yeah, I mean it's just so odd to think about, because I've been here for 26 years A lot of memories and emotions, but a lot of excitement about, you know, kind of the next phase. I'll be having a little, um, retirement gathering and I was sitting here thinking about who do I invite? You know, I put my list together and all of a sudden it was at 50 people and I was like, oh, that's a lot of people, but, um, I didn't really want like a big to die because you know, retiring early is a little bit different than being here 30 years. So ask them not to do too big of a celebration and but it'll be fun to kind of close out that chapter and say my thank yous and start fresh. Yeah, a hundred miles up the road Not even not even that Well, and you never know, the paths do continue to cross. Oh, and definitely we're planning a lot of collaborative type opportunities with some of the projects that I'll be involved in, for sure yeah, that'll be fun.
Speaker 2So are you a heart thinker or a head thinker?
Speaker 3Definitely a heart.
Speaker 2Yeah, yes, so is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Speaker 3I think so. I think it helps me be more compassionate and in tune with what people's needs are, and trying to make sure that I understand those and look out for their well-being as a person and as an individual and, you know, find an opportunities for them to be successful is, I think, really a good trait of a leader. That the type of leader that I really want to be.
Speaker 2Yeah Well, and you've had those leadership opportunities. Yeah Well, and you've had those leadership opportunities. So you've both been the leader, been led and you kind of evolve into the best of all of that. So we've talked about a lot of different things. Is there something that we didn't touch on that you want to make sure that we do?
Speaker 3I just appreciate the work that you're doing to bring attention to, you know what things are out there that have helped us grow as people and as women. I really enjoyed the conference that Becca invited me to. Met some really strong, brilliant folks there and it was fun to sort of see her in this next phase. So I have loved seeing her grow and thank you for encouraging her and for the work that you're doing I think is very important.
Speaker 2Well, thank you, thank you, I appreciate that. You know you said something about the mentoring, both being mentored and being a mentor. It is so important to make those connections and just see who you can follow, and the world is so full of so many diverse women that there is something, a nugget, from someone that you can get. So I think that's important and I appreciate that from you. Well, I wish you the absolute best in your new ventures and we'll have to touch back. But I have one more question, well, two, how can people get in touch with you? I know that'll be changing, but if they want to follow some of your research or, yeah, involved in some way, how do they?
Speaker 3well, I should. I'll keep my UGA email address, since I'm um retiring, so they can email me at mbowie, m-b-o-w-i-e at UGAedu.
Speaker 2Okay, good, good. And then there are some specific projects, research that you'll continue.
Speaker 3Yes, I'm sure the focus for the Clemson Center for Health Outreach is on rural health and nutrition and so there's a lot of chronic disease prevention work that's happening. But they are interested in some of the mental health work we've been doing. So I feel like that will continue and I'll be definitely helping build out some of that focus once I get my feet on the ground over Clemson.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah. One more question If you had a superpower, you have it for 24 hours, it can be anything you want and you can use it personally or professionally. What superpower would you choose, how would you use it and why would it be your choice?
Speaker 3I'd like to be able to fly and I think it would be really awesome because I know so much about Georgia, like I know where every county is, I know I've been here so long I feel like I'm kind of entrenched. I don't know that much about South Carolina. I would like to fly over South Carolina so I could just see a little bit more what the topography and environment is like, more what the topography and environment is like, and also just enjoy seeing the ocean and the mountains and just the beautiful landscape that I'm moving to. So that's what I would do.
Casual Conversation on Stacked Keys Podcast
Speaker 2There you go. Well, best of luck to you, and thank you, maria, for joining us.
Speaker 1Well, thank you, enjoyed it.
Speaker 2Find Stacked Keys Podcast on Spotify, soundcloud and iTunes or anywhere you get your favorite podcast listen. You'll laugh out loud, you'll cry a little, you'll find yourself encouraged. Join us for casual conversation that leads itself, based on where we take it from family to philosophy, to work to meal prep, to beautifully surviving life. And hey, if I could ask a big favor of you, go to iTunes and give us a five rating. The more people who rate us, the more we get this podcast out there. Thanks, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1I got a big drum. We'll see you next time dreams, yeah, and they've been passing out the same singing wow, wow, wow.