Judy Hiatt retires after 12 years of planning commencement

By Jasmin Enriquez Martinez

Features Editor

Judy Hiatt graduated from high school and immediately started working as a bank teller for 10 years, never going to college. 

She never imagined that she would be planning students’ most memorable day-graduation. 

“Probably the hardest part of my job but the most rewarding part of my job, is planning commencement,” said Hiatt. 

After 12 years serving as assistant to the provost and academic affairs, Hiatt will retire in March from her position. Melanie Bowles will take her place once she retires. In 1986, Hiatt moved from Florida to work at Trevecca as the resident director for the dorms in Bud Robinson at the time. Since moving up in positions, Hiatt’s overseen the planning of commencement each year at Trevecca.

While working at her church, Hiatt received an offer from Steve Pusey, now retired university provost, to apply for the assistant position due to his then assistant departing. 

Hiatt served as Pusey’s assistant for five years until he retired in 2019. 

Tom Middendorf, university provost and senior vice president, never knew that he would be working alongside Hiatt someday. 

Middendorf has known Hiatt since 2008 both attending the Grace Church of the Nazarene together. 

Middendorf describes her as encouraging and affirming in many ways. 

“She’s going to be one of those that’s quick to pray for our people here in the office if something happens,” said Middendorf.

He sees Hiatt as an integral part of the team and finds it hard to move forward without her. 

“I would say that Judy and I work really well together,” said Middendorf. “It’s hard because you form a bond, you depend on someone.” 

Middendorf said he will miss Hiatt’s friendship, reminding Hiatt that she’s irreplaceable. 

“She’s always going to be that friend and that community member to Trevecca,” Middendorf said.

During Hiatt’s time at Trevecca she remembers teaching 12 international students how to cut and sew masks during summer 2020, making 6 thousand masks for the fall semester. 

That same year, Hiatt planned a drive up commencement with the help of Peggy Cooning, retired vice president for university engagement. 

“We set up the convocation center, allowed four graduates with their families in at a time. Their names were called. They shook the president’s hand and were awarded their diploma. It was amazing,” she said. 

Hiatt will miss working with the people on her team and being on campus. 

“I’ll miss Trevecca but I’ll still be around,” she said. 

However, she looks forward to retiring and having more free time to write cards and take care of her Sunday school class. As well as getting back into crafting and working in her yard. 

She also looks forward to retiring with her husband Jim Hiatt, associate provost and dean of the Skinner school of business, who will retire later in April.

Jim and Judy met on campus while he worked as a business professor and her as resident director. 

After Jim spent six weeks in Japan on a cultural exchange trip and came back on campus, he was introduced to Judy, he said. 

On March 21, 1987, Jim asked her out and three weeks later proposed to her getting married three months later, said Judy.

Now the Hiatt’s have been married for 38 years.

Jim sees Judy as a kind and caring person.

“Even though she gets the same questions several times a day, she always responds with kindness and with care,” said Jim.

As Judy gets ready to retire, she hopes that people remember her kindly and as the person who kept a little dog under her desk sleeping. 

Middendorf hopes students see Judy’s love for them and a cheerleader behind the scenes.

“She’s been a part of the student experience from the day students got here to the day they graduate,”said Middendorf. “That’s maybe something that students don’t realize.”