Peachtree Corners Rotary Club’s newest member, Yarden Hixson, had the pleasure of being inducted on November 26, 2012 by the District 6910 Governor, Margie Eddy-Forbes.

Yarden is a lifelong Georgia resident. After she completed her Associate’s degree in psychology from Gordon College, she moved North of Atlanta to continue her education at Georgia State University. Upon completion of her Bachelor’s degree in communication, despite having some reservations, she planned on pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology.

She married her love, Andrew Hixson, in the fall of 2010, and began her active pursuit of a graduate degree. Thankfully though, life doesn’t always go as planned. Despite her diligent efforts, she found her plans of becoming a Speech Therapist slipping away. Feeling frustrated and lost, she accepted a job at Brenau University’s North Atlanta Campus as their Office Manager, in February, 2011. Brenau University is a non-profit, private university that offers many undergraduate and graduate degrees including a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Their classes are structured so people who work full time can still complete their educational goals. She quickly realized why her plans had fallen through; she was meant to be an Occupational Therapist.

Since early 2011 many exciting things have happened. In January 2012, upon the resignation of the Campus Director, Yarden was asked to take on the role of Interim Campus Director, and then in July 2012, she was asked to officially become the Campus Director; she of course accepted. She said that Brenau University has completely changed her life, in the best way possible. Not only is she thrilled that she has the amazing opportunity to pursue her dream job through education, she can do so while working at a job she loves, for a cause that she is passionate about, education. On December 8^th, 2012 she completed her entire first year of graduate school.

Although working full time and going to school full time is very difficult, she said she wouldn’t change a thing. She said that she has met the most wonderful people through work and school, including the members of the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club. She expressed that throughout all of the meetings and groups she has attended for work, she has never met a more wonderful, sincere, group of people than the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club. She is proud to be a Rotarian.

 The Peachtree Corners Rotary Club meet each Monday at 12:00 p.m. at the Carlyle House in Norcross, visit the club's website for additional information.

For more information about joining and/or attending please email Membership Chairman Sam Evans (sam@goldenyearsadvisory.com) or President Jim Blum (jim@jimblumlaw.com).