Classified Staff In-Service Day

On behalf of the Classified Training and Development Committee, we invite all classified staff to a workshop focused on the importance of student completion and how non-faculty members can play a role in assisting students towards that goal. February 7, 2019 will feature two options for attending this workshop: 9a-10:30a and 1-2:30pm (supervisors: make note that, while areas should remain open, employees should be given the time to attend one session). Below is a little bit of information about our day’s facilitator, Erin Jones!

Erin Jones

Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, from predominantly Black to predominantly White to some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while working in Tacoma and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008, while teaching in Spokane. In March of 2013, the White House recognized her as a “Champion of Change” and she received Washington State PTA’s “Outstanding Educator” award in 2015. In 2016, Erin ran as a candidate for State Superintendent (the first black woman to run for any state office in WA), a race she lost by a mere 1%.

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Employee Spotlight – Kimberly Rashel

We’d like to take a moment and recognize our newest employees to Green River. Please take a moment to learn more about them, in their own words.

Please tell everyone your new title and a little bit about your professional background.

I am a graduate of the Green River court reporting program and have been a real-time closed captioner for the past 13 years. I have captioned everything from the Olympic Games to your local newscasts and everything you can imagine in between.

What drew you to apply to Green River?

I learned about the job opening from one of my former instructors, who encouraged me to apply for the position.

On the car ride to work, what do you listen to?

Mostly talk radio

What was the very first job you ever had?

I worked cooking burgers and making drinks for Orange Julius.

What about your new position is most exciting for you?

It’s a new challenge for me in my career and will expose me to things I haven’t yet had a chance to experience.

What is one thing you’d love to accomplish in your first year at Green River?

Organize and caption a large majority of the online videos that Green River offers.

What three accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

Graduating from court reporting school, captioning the Olympic Games, and being parent to my two boys.

If your coworkers were to give you an office nickname, what would that be? Why?

Pippi, because I sometimes wear my hair in braids and have a lot of freckles.

For Green River’s annual talent show (this doesn’t actually exist), what hidden talent would you showcase for everyone?

My crochet and knit creation

If G.R.E.E.N. were an acronym for something, what would each letter stand for?

Great Reason Everyone Enjoys Nature

Employee Spotlight – Justin Dampeer

We’d like to take a moment and recognize our newest employees to Green River. Please take a moment to learn more about them, in their own words.

Justin Dampeer

Please tell everyone your new title and a little bit about your professional background.

Hello! As the new Director of Basic Skills, I have a background and passion for providing educational access to historically marginalized populations. I have worked in TRiO Student Support Services, Workforce Education, and ESL/ABE as both faculty and staff member. I also taught pre-school for a couple of years and did SAT Prep.

What drew you to apply to Green River?

Coming from Highline College, I had previous positive experiences collaborating with faculty and staff here at GRC. Also with a passion for serving our students of color and immigrant and refugee populations, I knew I needed to stay in South King County.

On the car ride to work, what do you listen to?

My pump up song to get me ready for the day is Des’ree “You Gotta Be.”

What was the very first job you ever had?

The first job I ever had was at a Sonic Drive-In as the fry cook in Mississippi where I grew up.

What about your new position is most exciting for you?

I am most excited to work with our college to improve access for all students.

What is one thing you’d love to accomplish in your first year at Green River?

Eat at all the good restaurants in the Auburn area.

What three accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

Being a good son to both my parents

Graduating college (first in family)

Helping others graduate college

If your coworkers were to give you an office nickname, what would that be? Why?

Take Out would be my nickname, because I don’t cook. EVER.

For Green River’s annual talent show (this doesn’t actually exist), what hidden talent would you showcase for everyone?

My hidden talent is that I’m shameless. With that said, I would perform a choreographed skit/dance to Janet Jackson’s “Nasty.”

If G.R.E.E.N. were an acronym for something, what would each letter stand for?

Get

Ready

(for)

Energy

(and)

Enthusiasm

Now

New Employee Spotlight – Tori Engstrom

We’d like to take a moment and recognize our newest employees to Green River. Please take a moment to learn more about them, in their own words.

Tori Engstrom

Please tell everyone your new title and a little bit about your professional background.

My new title is the Program Coordinator in the Running Start Office. I previously worked at Seattle University in the Disability Services and South Seattle College as a college coach/mentor in the Pre-College TRiO Programs. I am finishing up my masters’ degree in Student Development Administration at Seattle University

What drew you to apply to Green River?

I absolutely love the campus and the environment that surrounds it. My mom’s family was raised in Maple Valley, so I am very familiar with the area and want to give back to this community. I also am passionate about working with the student population that GRC serves.

On the car ride to work, what do you listen to?

I listen to a little bit of everything, but my favorite music is Rock (Heavy Metal, Modern, Punk, and Alternative). I also like to listen to Hip Hop, Rap, some electronic music, and I  love folksy/chill kind of music.

What was the very first job you ever had?

My first job was working at a Youth Center. I got to work with middle school and high school students in a Boys n Girls Club-like setting every day after school. I got to chaperone field trips, plan events, and help the students with homework.

What about your new position is most exciting for you?

I’m excited to be working in a full-time position that supports my education. Since my own time in Running Start, I have wanted to give back to that program. I am also excited about the Running Start Club that is associated with our office and hope to be a supportive role in that!

What is one thing you’d love to accomplish in your first year at Green River?

I just got connected with GDEC and I am super excited to participate and contribute to that. I’m hoping I can find a way to grow with Green River. I am very excited for the possibilities that Green River has to offer me.

What three accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

1. Being nominated for Student Employee of the Year at WWU
2. Getting accepted into Seattle University’s Student Development Administration M.Ed program
3. Being offered the Program Coordinator position at the Running Start Office here at GRC

If your coworkers were to give you an office nickname, what would that be? Why?

I’ve never really had any other nicknames because Tori is technically not my first name so getting everyone to call me Tori seems like a nickname to me haha

For Green River’s annual talent show (this doesn’t actually exist), what hidden talent would you showcase for everyone?

I love to sing and dance, I can play the piano and sing

I also have been told I have a good sense of humor and people tend to laugh when I talk to them so maybe some stand-up?

If G.R.E.E.N. were an acronym for something, what would each letter stand for?

G – Grrrrrreat

R – Retro

E – Energetic

E – Extra

N – Nifty

Fall 2018 Health Sciences Graduation

On behalf of Dr. Barry Robinson, Dean of Health Science and Technology

Congratulations to graduates of two certificate programs from the School of Health Science and Technology at the end of the fall quarter. There were 11 students that graduated from the NA-C program (Certified Nursing Assistant) and 22 students that graduated from the Phlebotomy program.  Also, this is the first graduating class from the Phlebotomy program since its resurrection after four years of inactivity.

Dr. Robinson would like to thank all the faculty and staff for a great job with these programs. To the students he wishes them continued success in their future.

See below for pictures of our graduates

New Employee Spotlight – Fernando Yanez – Martinez

We’d like to take a moment and recognize our newest employees to Green River. Please take a moment to learn more about them, in their own words.

Please tell everyone your new title and a little bit about your professional background.

Hola, my name is Fernando and I have the privilege of being the program coordinator in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I am bilingual in Spanish and English and proud to be from the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities.  Prior to my new role, I served as the Latinx Peer Navigator for the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; had the honor of being President for the Latin@ Student Union; and co-founded the Latin@ Student Union’s event Fiesta Latina, deemed the “Best Event” during the 2017-2018 scholastic year.  In addition, I was an AmeriCorps member implementing before and after school programs for secondary school students who needed supplemental academic support and guidance.  Moreover, I was a Lego Robotics and STEM Instructor for a Lego franchise.  In every professional capacity, my passion led me to help and serve others.

What drew you to apply to Green River?

I was a student employee in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion during the 2017-2018 academic year.  That year helped confirm my desire to dwell in a relational space that acknowledged, celebrated and empowered my way of being, my identity and intersectionalities.  During this time, I also had an opportunity to ignite my leadership qualities, and expand personal and professional development. I am excited to expand in-depth concepts and nuances regarding DEI initiatives and projects.

On the car ride to work, what do you listen to?

It depends on the day of the week and my mood. I could listen to anything from cumbias and reggaeton to alternative and instrumental.

What was the very first job you ever had?

My first job was at an apple pie (and pumpkin) factory.

What about your new position is most exciting for you?

I am extremely enthusiastic to connect and support students through various programming, services, and resources our office provides on campus. I look forward to the plethora of intercultural and diverse events, forums and workshops our office and students host throughout the year.

What is one thing you’d love to accomplish in your first year at Green River?

I want to fully immerse myself in Green River to make connections and build relationships throughout campus so I can better serve our communities on and off campus.

What three accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

• I’m the first one in my family to pursue higher education.
• Completing my year of service in AmeriCorps
• Coming back to GRC as a program coordinator.

If your coworkers were to give you an office nickname, what would that be? Why?

I can’t think of a specific nickname, but I’ll make the assumption it would have to be something with lovely, or being positive.

For Green River’s annual talent show (this doesn’t actually exist), what hidden talent would you showcase for everyone?

Spoken word.

If G.R.E.E.N. were an acronym for something, what would each letter stand for?

Graciously

Recognizing

Excellence

Empowerment and

Narratives

New Employee Spotlight – Annemarie Vinson

We’d like to take a moment and recognize our newest employees to Green River. Please take a moment to learn more about them, in their own words.

Please tell everyone your new title and a little bit about your professional background.  

My new title is manager of The Paper Tree Bookstore. I spent 10 years as a retail store manager at JC Penney.

What drew you to apply to Green River?

I wanted to work in an educational setting and make a positive impact on people.

On the car ride to work, what do you listen to?

Audible – currently Me Before You

What was the very first job you ever had?

Dishwasher at 13 ½ years old

What about your new position is most exciting for you?

Working with my store

What is one thing you’d love to accomplish in your first year at Green River?

Get to know faculty and staff in school to promote sales

What three accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

• First in my family to attend college and graduate with 4 year
• Married 20 years to Curtis Vinson.
• Managed stores like my Grandfather did.

If your coworkers were to give you an office nickname, what would that be? Why?

Woody Woodpecker- sometimes I laugh a lot .

For Green River’s annual talent show (this doesn’t actually exist), what hidden talent would you showcase for everyone?

Dress and act silly / comedy

If G.R.E.E.N. were an acronym for something, what would each letter stand for? Green

River

Educational

Experience

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