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Katie Scoggins arrived at the University of Georgia to pursue a profession in public health, yet public transportation has emerged as her genuine passion.
Scoggins has been employed by Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) for the last 17 years, initially taking on the role of a student bus operator in 2008, advancing to a full-time bus operator in 2012, and becoming a transit events coordinator in 2018.
She remarked, “My favorite aspect of the public health degree was having to devise strategies, execute, assess and make adjustments,” as she did for a smoking cessation initiative in one of her courses. Now she employs a similar methodology as the transit events coordinator for TPS.
“Someone presents me with a challenge or a requirement, then I formulate a plan, collaborate with the client, gather feedback from them, consult with dispatch and the driver, and apply enhancements for future occasions,” she stated.
Scoggins organizes bus services for special occasions such as spring Commencement, which deploys shuttles to transport guests with disabilities from the East Campus Parking Deck to the ceremonies. She collaborates with the Visitors Center to arrange buses for campus tours, with Greek Life to facilitate buses for sorority rush, and with numerous other departments throughout the year. She also assists with transit and parking requirements on football game days.
“This role demands a lot of teamwork,” Scoggins expressed. “You’re not merely collaborating with drivers and schedulers; you’re partnering with various departments across campus and working together within TPS and Auxiliary Services. No one can execute their task in transit without the assistance of others.”
Communication among staff members, supervisors, drivers, and clients is essential to ensuring that everyone is informed about upcoming activities and areas needing improvement, Scoggins asserts.
“If you aren’t conveying a problem or issue, you cannot address it,” she commented.
A significant portion of Scoggins’ responsibilities as the transit events coordinator consists of research. Utilizing Google Maps along with insights from transit personnel, clients, site evaluations, and her personal experience, she delivers drivers with step-by-step directions, useful notes about the route, and contact details for the event.
UGA buses can be utilized for destinations up to 70 miles away, and Scoggins has visited Atlanta, Lawrenceville, and Augusta for site assessments. She ensures that the location is bus-friendly and decides if the driver will require an additional staff member to assist with backing up or executing a complex maneuver on-site.
Analytical thinking and flexibility are additional factors contributing to Scoggins’ achievements. Even if an event occurs annually, there are always enhancements to be made and new situations to manage.
Scoggins collaborated closely with Greek Life, for instance, to adjust the bus stop locations for sorority recruitment to improve the safety of the 2,200 participants. This year, she and the Greek Life director reassessed the entire plan to maintain the same service level as in previous years while having fewer buses available that week. Scoggins also recorded the modifications they implemented during sorority recruitment 2025, ensuring she could apply those same enhancements in 2026.
While Scoggins still relishes driving UGA buses (she retains her commercial driver’s license in case she needs to assist), she appreciates the behind-the-scenes tasks even more. The only difference now is that passengers no longer witness the effort she puts into making their journey as seamless as possible.
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