In Memoriam: A Life of Public Service

Diane Caves

Diane Caves (M.P.A. '07) epitomized what the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies wants in a student and an alumnus - a person dedicated to service and committed to making things better.

Katherine Willoughby, professor of public management and policy, remembers how well Caves expressed her dedication when she gave a speech at Honors Day.

"I remember that she said, 'It's wonderful to live in a country that will pay you to help others,'" Willoughby said. "We have opportunities to be employed in careers that can impact people's lives, and she really honed in on that."

Caves, a worker for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, died in the massive Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti while she was there working to improve Haitian HIV/AIDS programs.

Her death reverberated through the Georgia State community - especially with those involved at the university's Institute of Public Health, where she was working on her master's degree in public health.

Christine Stauber, assistant professor of public health, taught Caves in an environmental health class during the fall 2009 semester.

"She always provided insightful comments and questions, even though the class wasn't her main area of focus in her work at the CDC," Stauber said.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies has established a student award named in Caves' honor that will recognize those with a commitment to public service.