Andrew C. West, 30 years

Andrew serves as the Executive Center Administrator for Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance within the School of Medicine.

Tell us about your career at Emory.

I started working as an Office Assistant at Wesley Woods while I was an undergraduate student at Emory. After graduation, I was hired as the Cashier at Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital, where I was responsible for accounts receivable, patient valuables, refunds, and more. I received several promotions at Wesley Woods before leaving Emory for two years to work as a consultant for BDO Seidman. I then returned to Emory and worked in Pathology before landing my current position as Executive Center Administrator with Georgia CTSA (Clinical & Translational Science Alliance) within the School of Medicine. 

What are some of your favorite Emory memories?

I volunteered to usher for the 1992 commencement when Mikhail Gorbachev was the speaker. I was all decked out in a blue blazer, khaki pants, earpiece, walkie-talkie, and my Kappa Alpha fraternity lapel pin, looking pseudo-official. After the ceremony, I was instructed via my walkie-talkie to help with security in front of the administration building. I saw what I assumed was a security detail and joined a circle of Secret Service agents and State Department security personnel around Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Coretta Scott King, and Jim Laney. I quickly realized I wasn't supposed to be there because I didn't have the correct lapel pin. One of the Secret Service agent's eyes widened when he noticed I was wearing a fraternity pin instead of a Secret Service or State Department pin. After the VIPs departed, the agent asked me who I was and why I was in their security detail. I explained that I was a volunteer and had been told to help. The agent shook his head and started laughing. When I jokingly asked if I could get a gun, they all laughed even harder. That’s one of my favorite Emory stories—the day I accidentally infiltrated a security detail of some serious VIPs. 

Andrew stands next to the Olympic torch prior to its journey through Emory in 1996.

What are some of the most significant changes you've witnessed?

We used to have to run around campus seeking handwritten signatures from dozens of people every time we submitted a proposal (anyone remember the infamous SPAF, or Sponsored Program Activity Form?). After gathering all the signatures, we would deliver a hefty stack of paper to the Office of Sponsored Programs at the North Decatur Building for final review. Once approved, we had to pick it up and FedEx it to the NIH or wherever it needed to go. If the deadline was tight, we would drive to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and use Delta Dash for same-day delivery. I’m so glad we do things electronically now!

What do you miss from “back in the day”?

I used to wear a suit to the office every day or at least a tie in the summertime... just kidding, I don't miss wearing a tie at all although I do sometimes wear a suit and tie if the situation dictates more formal attire of course.

Andrew and fellow veterans during the 2010 Emory Veterans Day Ceremony. Andrew initiated the annual Emory Veterans Day Ceremony on the quad in 2009.

What do you hope for the future of Emory?

I hope that Emory can continue its momentum towards making veterans feel more welcome on campus. 

Anything else you would like to share?

I'd like to see Swoop on campus more often. For some reason, I just think it's cool when the Emory mascot walks around campus just waving to folks.