Asha Manzy was born in Commerce, GA and came to Athens when she was seven. She graduated from Cedar Shoals High School and attended the University of West Georgia where she earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science. Asha did post bachelor’s work at Georgia Southern, studying Public Administration and Sociology, and went on to earn a master’s degree in Education from Columbus State. She plans to work within higher education, possibly in student affairs or advising. Currently, Asha is the Program Director at the Food Science and Technology Extension in College of Agriculture and Environmental Science at the University of Georgia and the Program Specialist for Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy nonprofit organization. She also works as a personal chef doing weekly meal prep for clients. Asha is a member of the Athens Junior League, currently serving as secretary of the board, as well as the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. She lives on the West Side of Athens.

 

 

 

 

What do you love most about the work you do?

 

I am a Program Coordinator for the University of Georgia at Food Science and Technology Extension and we work with food entrepreneurs and other food manufacturing companies and the thing that I love most of all about our job is working with the food entrepreneurs. So, we usually have a busy January but this year January has been pretty slow. Usually we have people who come in with their resolutions of starting their business. We work with them and help them with their nutritional facts panels and other processes they need to get their food businesses started and licensed with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. I want to tell you one of my favorite stories. There was a lady who worked for the FDA for over twenty years and she was let go during Covid. They told her either you are going to have to retire or we are going to have to let you go. The next day after she finished crying about having to retire early, she called me and said I have a pie recipe that I have been making for over thirty years and I want to start this business today. She said that her kids are out of the house, they have their own families and they have always told her to put her pie into the market. She said, no I have to raise y’all and work. I don’t have time to do it. She said, “I have no more excuses, it is my time to do it.” That was so inspiring to me and it made me realize to not let my job take over a passion completely. That is why I feel I volunteer so much, because I don’t get to volunteer through my job so that fulfills that part of me so I never lose that passion and that spark.

 

When you are not working and volunteering, what are some of the things you like to do in Athens?

 

One of my favorite places in Athens is Tlaloc on Chase Street. I love that restaurant. I also like going to different restaurants like Fully Loaded or different breweries to try craft beers. I am really into craft beers. Other than that, I am at home. I meal prep for some clients, always looking at new recipes and trying different recipes for meal prep or I am just doing a self care day and just chilling at home on the couch.

 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

 

Well, in 2008 I went to Italy with my middle school. I went to Coile Middle and one of our teachers, James Castle, took a group of us to Italy and Greece and took us to this beach in Naples, Italy. It had black sand and it was just one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. But, I don’t feel like I appreciated it as much as an eighth grader as I would as an adult, so I would love to try to go there again.

 

If you could see any band, musician or show anywhere, who or what would you see and where?

 

I would love to see the movie cast for Dreamgirls with Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, and Jamie Foxx. I would love to see them perform the soundtrack live. We could keep in basic and go to The Fox or, better yet, in my living room and they just perform for me right there.

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

 

To take that leap of faith. I have always wanted to move to a different state. My top city wish is Charlotte, North Carolina, and I just never did it. I know it is not too late now, but I am also trying to get further into my career. Take that leap of faith, even if you don’t have a job, just go for it.

 

Do you have a favorite book, or a book you find yourself rereading, referencing or gifting most often?

 

One of my favorite books is called A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. It is about the Sierra Leone Civil War that happened in the 1990s and early 2000s. Although it is probably like a high school level book, it has always been one of my favorite books. When I was in college, it was what I focused on for my senior capstone was the Sierra Leone Revolutionary War. It has just been one of my favorite books and I read it over and over and find different things to research from that.

 

Do you have a favorite movie or remember the first movie you saw in a movie theater?

 

My absolute favorite movie since I was a child has always been Men in Black, because Will Smith is my favorite actor. But, I would also say Seven Pounds is one of my favorite movies. I have probably seen it forty-two times since it came out. So I would say either Men in Black or Seven Pounds. Anything with Will Smith with no shirt, honestly.

 

What is something interesting about you that some people might not know?

 

Growing up I always wanted to be a firefighter, and I just don’t like running so that took me out of the running for it. But, I always wanted to be a firefighter.

 

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and where?

 

Honestly, it would be the whole cast of Golden Girls. All of them. We would just go to the lanai at their house in Miami.

 

What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word “home?”

 

Comfort, community and cultivate. Starting anew to plant those seeds to make your community better.