Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1997)
Twenty-five year secretary reflects on her job Irofessional Secretaries' Week April 21-25 Professional Secretaries* 1 Day is Wednesday. The week is celebrated annually during the last full week in April. The honor for secretar ies has been a tradition since 1952. Thereare currently 3,349,000 employed secretaries in the United States. The theme forthis year's Secretaries' Week is "Bridges to . Opportunity for Adminis trative Specialists." CHRISTINA MUELLER Feature Editor Sue Hagen has been a part of the college for 25 years. She is well -known and respected throughout the college. She came to Oregon from Wichita, Kan., in 1970. She was hired two years later by the college to be a switchboard operator. In 1980 Hagen worked for the col lege Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Four years later, when budget cuts can celed the volunteer program, she be came a secretary in the testing depart ment “My job is really not a secretary position, even though that’s the title. I do very little typing or even com puter work. I do more one on one with people,” Hagen explained. The testing department is where placement, GED, and other tests are administered. IWo days a week the testing center does GED testing. “It’s different than any job on cam pus," she said. Hagen likes working in the testing department because it gives her a chance to Work with people. Hagen also scores and compiles the results of the Myers Briggs and Strong tests. Then Judy Mills or a counselor goes out to explain the results to stu dents. «3 - “The testing department is kind of like the mother of the college because that’s where everyone starts first, and then from there we direct them to a counselor,” she said. The testing department works with many other departments in the col lege. The department is also a place that helps students stay on track. The department works closely with the counseling department. Hagen has seen quite a bit of change in her many years at Clackamas. “If you like change, it’s definitely what happens around here,” she said. “It seemed like, for years, I knew ev eryone and every thing about them [other faculty], it was a small family?’ you like When Hagen first change, it’s started, she and Bernie Nolan were definitely the only ones run ning the counsel what ing center. happens “One of the fun around here, things we used to do here is to start rumors about our selves and see how SueHagen Teslrg Center fast it gets back to us. Now the coìr 99 Seaetay lege has grown so big, no one really knows who you are,” she said. Now there are two full-time and four part-time employees running the cpunseling/testing department. In 1988 Judy Mills came to work in thè testing départment with Hagen. Hagen said, “She [Mills] and I work very close together. It’s a detailed job, and it helps to be compatible. I spend more time with her than I do with my hus band.” Hagen feels she is ina good department. She has a lot of. re spect for Dian Connett, and het boss, Jan Godfrey. “I have to say that we have the best president around. Dr. CHRISTINA MUELLER ! Clackamas Prim Keyser is tops in my book,” Hagen Sue Hagen, secretary in the testing department, has been at Clackamas for 25 years. added. “I think anytime that you’re on the would know if she was not speaking front line, like I am, that iris a benefit -right Hagen will be retiring on. June 30. to others and yourself if you have a After that she would like to Work on good sense of humor.” As a secretary, Hagen says she has her art. She loves to paint with water to be a good listener. She also tries colors, and she would like to write a novel in her spare time. to manage the office to her benefit. “I know there’s life after work»” she Her office is very clean and she ad mits, “I like to be in control I couldn’ t said. work in a messy office.” Some of her other plans include Hagen likes to be involved in do working with, her husband at the ing things for others, “ I remember at drive-through espresso and coffee a recognition party we had a few years shop they own. In addition, she back I dressed up as Vanna White,” plans to sell everything and travel. “It feels good, it feels like the Hagen explained. “I love to joke and play. Ask the fight time,” Hagen says òf her re président. I’m always giving him a tirement. The advice Hagen offers is, “Go bad time.” for it, whatever it is you want to do, Hagen says shé used to fear En glish instructors because she always because too soon you are dead and felt that when she talked to them, they they throw dirt in your face." Division secretaries A secretary's job... to workout issuesand challenges. From left are •Division Secretaries talk about their jobs and the benefits of being part of a secretaries' group. "Hike it because of this group. It would be much harder without this group. The strength is that we have enough commonality that we can sit and do this and help get through what we need to do." "This is a great group and, it's really nice that the college allowed us to form this workgroup." "We've been able to create processes that help our jobs function much better." "We're able to be proactive in our jobs." . "Humor gets us through some really tough situations." "We're problem solvers." "I tike the challenge of thejgfe” "We 're doing different things all the time." "Each job has some roles that are unique to that divi sion." "It certainly uses all of your skills." "I think that my favorite is the angry student that gets in your face." "We never get bored?’. "No matter what you need help on you know there's help available." Quotes from: Carole Yates-Division of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences. ‘ Associ ate Dean Kay Davis. Lynda Myers- Division of Business. Associate Dean Marcia Keith. Margie Tosi- Division of Math, Science, Allied Health and Public Service; Associate Dean Chuck Scott. Barbara Barrow- Division of Industrial, Health/PE and Community Recreation; Associate Dean Glenn Ferris. Becky Carnahan- Division of Instructional Services; Dean Dian Connett. Cathy LeDoux- Division of Extended Learning Services; Associate Dean Rene Zingarelli. Jeani Preble-Division qf instructional services; Dean Liz Goulard. Volume XXX, Issue 22 Lynda Myers, Carole Yates, Becky Carnahan, Jeani Preble, Margie Tosi and Barbara Barrow. CHRISTINA MUELLER / Clackamas Print. Appreciation from the deans • The deans and associate deans gave The Print an inside scoop on their secretaries. "Jeani is a highly talented individual whose expertise is indispensible to this office. Her knowledge of the curriculum and the work of departments and divisions is absolutely vital to our effective support of instruction. Beside that, she's a lot of fun to work with and we share a good sense of humor." -Liz Goulard about Jeani Preble "She is so committed to learning new things and better ways c making her job interesting. I like her willingness to be part of team for the division and making an effort to help with anyone' requests. She’s just fun. I love coming to work everyday know ing that I'm going to work with her. She's the greatest! -Rene' Zingarelli about Cathy LeDoux "Her best quality is everything! She is extremely efficient, has a good sense of humor and is always professional." -Kay Davis about Carole Yates "She works very independently on projects that she and I havt discussed. Tve given her responsibility for certain things, and 1 don't have to worry about them. If she has questions, shell ask.' -Chuck Scott about Margie Tosi "No one title sufficiently encompasses what she does. She is i vital member of the Clackamas team. I appreciate her pleasan attitude and willingness to fit in. I appreciate her, and I'm not the only one; lots of people da 'Tlike her commitment to excellence. I really get a charge out of watching people do their job ifthey do it well, and Lynda does." -Marcia Keith about Lynda Myers Wednesday, April 23,
