“Department Mom” Patty Gregory Earns University Award

By Chuck Carlson

Dr. Anne Dorrance, Chair of the Michigan State University Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, is busy in the quietest of weeks. She recalled recently when her calendar was especially frantic.

“I’m looking at my calendar, and there’s a little sliver on it where Patty has written ‘Have a snack,’” Dr. Dorrance said with a laugh. “That’s Patty. I couldn’t do my job without her. She makes sure I’m in the right place at the right time with the information I need. And she always makes sure I have time to eat.”

Patty, to anyone and everyone who comes to the PhmTox department, is Patricia Gregory -- office coordinator, assistant to Dr. Dorrance, keeper of vital information, finder of lost keys, copy machine expert, and the heart and soul of the department.

“I am the department mom,” she said, adding simply, “I just like being Patty.”

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed, and thanks to nominations from department faculty, staff, and students, she was recently awarded MSU’s Gliozzo Clerical-Technical Recognition Award, presented annually to a deserving university support staff member.

The award recognizes extraordinary and significant contributions to the community, innovative thinking in facilitating unit tasks and responsibilities, respect for peers, and concerns from students, faculty, staff, and colleagues.

It was an honor that left Patty in tears of appreciation.

“I’ve grown so much in this department,” she said.

Patty has years of experience on campus in various administrative and payroll duties, including 16 years on an on-call basis when departments would request immediate assistance.

“And I always said yes when asked,” she said.

She decided to return to work full-time and joined PhmTox in 2018 as a receptionist. When Dr. Dorrance was named Chair of the department in 2021, she asked Patty to apply for the office manager role and was hired for that position in 2022.

It was a role Patty wasn’t sure she was ready for.

“As a young boy, my nephew used the term ‘sciting,’” Patty said with a smile. “It’s a combination of scared and exciting. I’d never been in a role for a department chairperson before.”

She needn’t have worried.

Patty’s expertise involves nearly every aspect of the department, from arranging meetings, coordinating Dr. Dorrance’s calendar, helping students feel at home, and ensuring everyone has what they need when needed.

“Maybe I have a sense of where to go to find the answer,” she said. “I just like the fact that Anne lets me be me.”

“Patty’s the face of the department,” Dr. Dorrance said. “I’ve never met anyone that cares so much about her colleagues. Everybody should have a Patty. Everybody needs somebody like her in their corner.”