The Department of Microbiology recently bid farewell to a respected colleague and friend who has served the department steadfastly in multiple capacities for more than a decade. Julie Decker, program manager III in the Department of Microbiology, retired on June 1 after 13 years with the Department of Microbiology and more than 25 years with UAB at large. See more photos from the event.
“Thank you for all the support and help over the past 13 years,” Decker said. “I was very honored to have worked for you and been a part of your success. The people are what make Micro so great and what I will miss the most.”
Decker joined UAB in 1993 as a research assistant and then a lab manager, working on HIV research with George Shaw, Ph.D., and Beatrice Hahn, Ph.D., both former professors of medicine.
“I was very blessed to have been a part of a hard-working research lab that published in some of the top-tier journals and had a great impact on the HIV field, which, hopefully, has improved the lives of those infected,” Decker said in a 2015 interview for an article highlighting her as the February 2015 Employee of the Month.
She left UAB in 1997 but remained on campus working with Shaw for approximately 10 years before officially returning to UAB in 2007 to manage the labs of Shaw and Hahn. She then joined the Department of Microbiology as a program manager in 2013 and was named Employee of the Year for 2014-2015.
The department held a retirement gathering for Decker on Friday, May 29, where a steady stream of colleagues, past and present, came to express their well-wishes.
Frances Lund, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology who served as chair of the department when Decker was hired, reflected on Decker’s dedication and spirit driving the success of multiple aspects of the department.
“When I arrived at UAB as the new chair of the Department of Microbiology, Julie was one of my first hires for the department,” Lund said. “I think everyone will agree that this was literally the best decision I made in more than 10 years as the chair.”
Lund continued: “Julie has been the first point of contact for every seminar speaker and every faculty candidate that we’ve had visit over the last 14 years. Her professionalism, kindness, and unflagging enthusiasm for the UAB community made her our most effective secret weapon for recruitment and positive PR within the UAB research community. Perhaps even more importantly, Julie’s support for new Micro staff and faculty did not end once they arrived on campus. She advocated relentlessly to ensure that everyone in the department had what they needed to work effectively. While we will miss her tremendously, I am so grateful that our department was the place where Julie chose to come to work each day."
Laura Caltrider, MSPH, worked with Decker off and on from 2014-2024, first as a graduate-level researcher and eventually as a Researcher IV-V in the lab of Terje Dokland, Ph.D. Caltrider said Decker has been someone in the department that she could always count on.
“I can’t say enough about Julie Decker,” Caltrider said. “During my time in BBRB (Bevill Biomedical Research Building), she was always there to offer support regardless of the situation. Knowing she was there gave me peace of mind that things would work out. She will be deeply missed.”
Stacy Hall, MPH, Scientist I in the lab of Jan Novak, Ph.D., who first met Decker in 1998, called Decker "an institution unto herself," reflecting on the legacy she leaves behind.
"Julie Decker is an accomplished scientist, a supportive administrator, and an expert in every aspect of UAB systems," Hall said. "She leaves an enduring impact as an ambassador for the Department and the University as a whole—acting as the bridge and translator between administration, facilities, and science. Her steady leadership, deep institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment have been essential to every success within the department. Julie is an institution unto herself, and I am deeply grateful for her decades of service, wisdom, and friendship"
Among Decker’s contributions to the department were coordinating departmental operations and equipment, supporting faculty recruitment efforts, facilitating faculty onboarding, and helping with lab relocations, space allocation, deliveries, and lab closures.
“Julie also played a central role in organizing all our major events, such as our named lectures and supporting the office of the chair in so many ways,” said J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, professor and chair, Charles H. McCauley Endowed Chair in the Department of Microbiology. “Her ability to manage complex priorities with professionalism and precision has been essential to our success.”
Garcia-Martinez continued: “Julie has also been a trusted colleague and a steady presence in the department. She is known not only for her exceptional work ethic and attention to detail, but also for her generosity, collegiality, and willingness to go above and beyond to support faculty, staff, and trainees. Many of us have benefited directly from her guidance, problem-solving skills, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
In addition to her above-and-beyond contributions to the department's operations, Decker has had an indelible impact on its culture, according to Garcia-Martinez.
“Julie’s positive attitude and collaborative spirit have helped shape the culture of our department,” he added. “She has contributed in countless ways that extend beyond her formal responsibilities, and her impact will be felt long after her departure.”
