January 9, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
“I feel like I am always learning something new,” says Libby Furr, an administrative assistant in the Department of Exercise Science with the Children’s Physical Activity Research Group (CPARG). “The research groups, teaching faculty and staff in our department are top-notch. The programs attract excellent students. It’s a dynamic environment, and I really feel like I have grown along with Arnold School.”
Furr describes her childhood on a mountaintop in upstate South Carolina as magical. Her family moved around the state before settling in Rock Hill. In 2011, she began working at the Darla Moore School of Business in the Copy and Testing Center.
“After I had a part time job at USC, I quickly decided I would like to work for the university full time, if I could find a good fit,” Furr says. “Well, I found a good fit with exercise science.”
Since joining the department in 2015, Furr has supported CPARG as well as the Technology Center to Promote Healthy Lifestyles (TecHealth) and the Prevention Research Center (PRC). She even spent time assisting the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders when the need arose.
In her day-to-day work, Furr supports students (mostly graduate level), faculty and staff who travel for USC-affiliated research projects, data collection or presentations at conferences. These duties include coordinating logistics, navigating the process, tracking budgets, ensuring reporting requirements are met for awards and/or grant-funded travel, etc. When needed, she also assists the department’s Human Resources Manager, Latoya Townes, with the hiring process and Grants Administrator Melissa Bair with tracking grant funds.
“Libby exemplifies excellence in every aspect of her roles in the Department of Exercise Science,” Townes says. “She is always excited to learn and do more. Through her quick learning and efficient execution, she enhanced the travel process significantly. Overall, Libby goes above and beyond in everything she does, offering assistance without hesitation, and we are grateful that she is a member of our team.”
Furr's favorite part of the job is the people.
“Everyone works together well, and because of that we can pull it together even when it’s most challenging,” she says. “It’s never boring. I feel supported and appreciated, and I respect the people I work with, so I am always motivated to do my best.”
The Staff Spotlight Series is sponsored by the Arnold School's Office of Access and Collective Engagement.