Behind the Resume #32 – Sean Gehrke

sean-gehrkeWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?

I’m the Director of Institutional Research, and in general I will be providing guidance to members of the College about how to use data to inform decision-making. This entails making meaning of simple numbers as well as advance research studies, while also empowering others to use information for effective decision-making.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

I’ve worked my entire career in higher education, having spent roughly 10 years as a student affairs administrator prior to becoming a researcher. I have performed research focusing on multiple stakeholders in higher education (including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni). My experience as an administrator and researcher has contributed to knowledge in outcomes-based assessment, strategic planning, STEM reform, and leadership development. I received my Ph.D. in urban education from the University of Southern California, my M.Ed. in counseling and personnel services from the University of Maryland College Park, and my B.A. in psychology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland.

roman-forum
Colleen and I at the Roman Forum on our trip to Europe last February.

What was your most memorable job? Why?

My most memorable is probably my first job as a server and dishwasher in a retirement and assisted living community in Portland – I had this job through high school and college. I learned so much about how to work with people and professionalism. It also helped me to come out of my shell (I wasn’t the most outgoing person younger in life).

What does a typical day look like for you?

My typical day involves a combination of meetings with individuals and committees to provide context and expertise with data and research while also working in my office on research projects and helping to fulfill requests that come into institutional research.

Describe yourself at 10 years old.

I was a pretty shy kid at 10 who was interested in school and music (I played violin through college). But I was also fun-loving and working to develop my sense of optimism and relaxed demeanor that I have today.

budino-olive
Our two cats, Budino and Olive. I am allergic to cats, so we have Devon Rexes because they are relatively hypoallergenic. I love my cats.

What is your favorite meal/ snack in autumn? Favorite fall beverage?

I love cooking soups and stews and big hearty meals to be shared with others in the fall. My favorite beverage in the fall (along with the rest of the year) is a good seasonal beer or glass of red wine.

What is your favorite movie and book?

I have many favorite movies, but one of my favorites is Sunset Boulevard. I have many favorite books, but some recent fiction favorites are A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James and the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, and a recent non-fiction favorite is Believer by David Axelrod.

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save?

My wife’s computer because it has so many photos of our trips and adventures from the past 5 years. If I couldn’t find that, maybe my coffee grinder. 
Favorite travel spot?

The Oregon coast. I have fond memories up and down the central and north coast of Oregon, most notably Cannon Beach, where my wife and I got married five years ago on the beach.

cubs-mariners
Seeing the Mariners play at Wrigley Field against this Cubs this summer.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

I enjoy hiking, traveling (I got to take my first trip to Europe this past year), cooking and eating good food, drinking and learning about wine, following professional basketball and baseball (I’m a lifelong Cubs fan, so it’s been a good year), and spending time with my wife, Colleen, and our cats. I also love following politics.
What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?

No reading challenges. The last book I read was Nixonland, which examined events and politics of the 60’s and 70’s and how they contributed to today’s divisions in the country.

What one food do you wish had zero calories?

Both butter and sugar.

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?

I was born and raised in Milwaukie, OR just outside of Portland.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I see myself continuing to do this work and feeling more settled in the broader Seattle area.

rainier
Rainier – Hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park in 2014.

What do you like to do on your days off?

Spend time with my wife, explore the city (both sights and food), go for a walk or hike, and sleep in.

 

 

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?

If it’s not fun, don’t do it.

Behind the Resume #31 – April Harris

What is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?april-harris

I’m at the new Senior Graphic Designer in College Advancement. I will be helping the college community promote and communication all the great things that are going on here to various audiences. You will most likely find me in my natural habitat – behind the computer monitor staring at photos, fonts, and graphics.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

My experience as a graphic design has centered around the communications/PR fields but I have had a variety of experience in this arena. I’ve been in an in-house communications department with North Carolina’s court system. From there, I worked as a graphic designer in a communications agency and had the experience of working with external clients. For the past year and a half, I’ve been a freelancer working on projects from a variety of communications-related projects ranging from higher education/research to agribusiness and non-profit organizations.

What was your most memorable job? Why?

Family portraits on the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry. February 2016. (Pictured: April Harris, daughter, Madelyn, and husband, Dawson.)
Family portraits on the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry. February 2016. (Pictured: April Harris, daughter, Madelyn, and husband, Dawson.)

Probably my first job. I was a tomato grader at a farm. It wasn’t a terrible job (I got to work with my friends), but it was one of those jobs that made you realize what you DON’T want to be when you grow up.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Sending emails, flexing my creative muscles in Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator, meetings. Outside of work, taking care of my daughter and other tasks to keep the house going. My husband’s job takes him away from home a lot so there’s never a dull moment for me.

Describe yourself at 10 years old.

My memory isn’t that good. Haha. I would say I was artistic and shy, an animal lover, ballet dancer, and softball player.

What is your favorite meal/ snack in autumn? Favorite fall beverage?

April's daughter, Madelyn, in her monarch butterfly costume for Halloween -- her first time trick-or-treating.
My daughter, Madelyn, in her monarch butterfly costume for Halloween — her first time trick-or-treating.

Soup. I love potato soup and split pea soup. Of course, coffee and/or hot chocolate is a must.

What is your favorite movie and book?

What are those? I have a 19 month old.

I do watch several tv shows though. I’m big on sitcoms and will never tire of The Office. I also like Modern Family, The Middle, This is Us, The Good Place, and Superstore to name a few. My DVR gets worked regularly.

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save?

My computer. It has all the important information; photos, videos, saved passwords…

Favorite travel spot?

Cozumel, Mexico was pretty awesome and I’d love to go again. But after being on the west coast the past year and a half, I’m a little nostalgic for the NC & SC coast; Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, Emerald Isle, Bald Head Island, and the Outer Banks.

My daughter, Madelyn, relaxing by the pool.
My daughter, Madelyn, relaxing by the pool.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

I don’t have too much free time, but I like to exercise and coupon.

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?

I have many a book downloaded on my phone with many only partially read. The last book I ready from cover to cover was #girlboss. Written by Sophia Amoruso, it’s an autobiographical book about her journey from dumpster diving to running a multi-million dollar fashion empire.

What one food do you wish had zero calories?

Ben & Jerry’s Addicted to Chocolate

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?img_3623

Born and raised in Salisbury, NC until I went off to college.

What do you like to do on your days off?

Sleep, eat, explore the area (I’m still learning what all is around here!)

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?

“The goal of a designer is to listen, observe, understand, sympathize, empathize, synthesize, and glean insights that enable him or her to ‘make the invisible visible.’ –Hillman Curtis

Behind the Resume #30 – Jennifer Enger

jennifer-engerWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?

I am the Instructional Classroom and Support Technician for  I-CATCH (Innovations in Creating Access to Careers in Health).  I will be leading study sessions for students, tutoring students one-on-one, assisting in the classroom, and helping to plan workshops for the students.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

I have an associates degree in Veterinary Technology, a certificate in Medical Transcription, and I am currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  I worked for over 15 years in the veterinary field.  For the past four years, I worked at Seattle Pacific University in their Health Clinic as a medical receptionist.  

steve-and-jennifer
My husband, Steve, is my best friend.

What was your most memorable job? Why?

My most memorable job was working as a veterinary technician.  Sometimes, the patients were not thrilled to see you.  I was often the “cat wrangler” at the clinic. This required donning leather gloves and “making the cat into a burrito”  a.k.a. wrapping it up in a towel.   This job required a lot of multitasking.  One minute you were taking an x-ray, the next minute you were drawing a blood sample, or placing an IV catheter.  I was never bored, and it was very rewarding.   

What does a typical day look like for you?  

I spend time in the mornings either planning study sessions for students or leading study sessions.  By mid-day, I am helping in the classrooms.  At the end of the day, I am entering attendance and completed workbook points into Canvas.

sally
My sweet dog, Sally.

Describe yourself at 10 years old.  

My childhood friends and I would hang out in a nearby church parking lot.  Since there were no cars using it on the weekdays or Saturdays, we would ride our bikes around it, roller-skate there, or play lava monster tag.


What is your favorite meal/ snack in autumn? Favorite fall beverage?  

My favorite thing to eat in Autumn is pumpkin pie.  A close second would be my family’s  homemade apple pie with crumble crust.  My favorite Autumn beverage is apple cider, but I also love pumpkin spice lattes.

What is your favorite movie and book?  

My favorite book is Jane Eyre.  My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice.


If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save?

I would save the hamster cages, so that our hamsters would not be homeless.

fort-casey
Fort Casey is one of our favorite hangouts. (Picture of my son and myself).

Favorite travel spot?   

I love to go to Whidbey Island.  We enjoy camping at Deception Pass, and my family also likes to visit Camp Casey.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?   

I love to go camping with my family.  I also love to crochet and spend time reading.

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?   

The last book I read was the Social Life of DNA.   


What one food do you wish had zero calories?  Dark Chocolate

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?  

I grew up and was raised in Seattle.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  

I see myself finished with my Bachelor’s degree and enjoying all of the hobbies that I have put on hold.

long-beach
Having fun with my family at Long Beach, WA. (Windy picture with kids)

What do you like to do on your days off?  

Spend time having fun with my two children.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?   

My favorite quote is from Barbara Johnson:  “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”