Behind the Resume #44 – Papken O’Farrell

Papken OFarrell new employee photoWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?
My title at EvCC is Director of Program Development – Criminal Justice/Fire Science, the Public Safety Programs of the Health Sciences and Public Safety Division. I act as the hub between faculty, staff, and the dean’s office, and I’m involved in partnerships and outreach to our programs’ professional sectors while driving recruitment and overseeing the staff side of our day-to-day efforts.

Tell us a little about your professional background.
Before EvCC, I was at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington, where I managed a mid-career degree program and their continuing education courses. For much of that time, I also volunteered as the operations manager of a small pet rescue nonprofit based in Eastern Washington. Prior to that, I worked at Seattle Central (at the time, Community) College, from where I also attained my AA degree. The diversity and direct social impact of a community college can’t be beat, and I’m excited to be here at Everett Community College to experience that connection and impact again.

What was your most memorable job? Why?

Papken with an adoptable dog from the pet rescue
Papken with an adoptable dog from the pet rescue

My most memorable job was probably my first public sector job, working at the US Census Bureau in their regional office at the age of 19. Basically, the area office had to hire an entire set of staff—trainers, payroll, selections (hiring), as well as the census takers who work in the field, obviously—and complete their count within a matter of months. Out of a degree of chaos and uncertainly, we completed the counts for the 2000 Census, which included obtaining a much-needed updated count of the population experiencing homelessness in Washington State.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me includes meeting and fostering relationships with representatives of the fire services, emergency medical services, and criminal justice agencies in the region and state, as well as those at high schools and community organizations. I am also involved in curriculum and program planning, marketing and recruitment, supervising the staff, collaborating with faculty, and implementing process improvement so that we are delivering the best public value possible. A lot of my time in my first weeks has been spent learning EvCC systems and connecting with EvCC colleagues in other departments, to ensure we remain aligned with the College’s mission and encourage cross-campus cooperation.

Describe yourself at 12 years old.
At 12 years old, I was really creative and active physically. I trained in karate 4–5 days a week and was always running around (usually outside) whether with friends or by myself. I would spend a ton of time drawing and coming up with my own ideas for role-playing games, video games, and action figure toys. I was also really into environmentalism and music, and started to read books about cultures from outside my small, privileged sphere.

What is your favorite meal/ snack in winter? Favorite winter beverage?
My favorite meal/snack in winter is a tie between soup with salad and buttered soda bread, or mac and cheese with hot dogs (usually veggie dogs). My favorite winter beverage is black tea with milk, which is my preferred beverage most seasons. It just stuck after living in the British Isles.

What would be the title of your autobiography?
Tough one. Maybe, From Jet City to Viking Town: A Mini-Odyssey of Animals, Imagination, Music, Combat Sports, and Public Service.

What is the first concert you attended?
I think it was a Tim Noah Christmas concert at the Bon Marché or Nordstrom—I guess, Snohomish County represent!

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
My favorite pastime is being outdoors with my dogs, in pretty much any weather.

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 Green Island, a fictional memoir that follows a Taiwanese family’s experiences from the end of World War II, just after Taiwan had been a colony of the Japanese Empire, through its transition to the early Republic of China, and finally its transition to open democracy in the 1980s.

What one food do you wish had zero calories?
Chocolate. Perhaps not much of an original answer…but it’s precious to me!

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?
I was born in Seattle but actually grew up from the age of 12 in Dublin, Ireland. I also bounced around a bit before coming back to the Puget Sound area to finish college.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself still contributing to public service, hopefully with more education under my belt.

What do you like to do on your days off?
On my days off, I like to hike or walk with my dogs and sometimes go to concerts.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?
I have two. One piece of advice that I try to follow imparts that, since there are no guarantees in life and ultimately, very few things matter, you should spend your time being happy, being kind, and loving what you do.

Another is that, although everyone has cowardice, the surest way to failure is to hang back out of fear. Rather, pursue challenges and engage in conflict with energy and joy, regardless of what the outcome might be.

Behind the Resume #36 – Amee Moon

What is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?
I am the Associate Director of International Student Engagement. I will be planning events and activities to help international students connect with the campus, participate in the community, and adjust to life in the U.S.  We also want them to make friends, explore Washington, and HAVE FUN!

Tell us a little about your professional background.

Amee in Thailand

Three study abroad experiences in Brazil, Argentina and Chile started me on an international career path. My first job out of college was at Intel, where I did marketing and web localization projects for Latin America. Shortly after returning to the U.S., I signed up to teach English in Japan for two years. When that gig was up, I moved to the Seattle area to do marketing and recruiting for international students at Highline College, eventually transitioning into student leadership and development (you know, the fun stuff). I stayed at Highline for 13 years prior to landing at Everett.

What was your most memorable job? Why?
My most memorable job was in the Intel Brazil office in Sao Paulo, mostly because of the crazy cast of characters who worked there. I laughed until I cried every single day.

What does a typical day look like for you?
These days I’m waking up insanely early, dreaming up fun events that students will like, and planning for every bizarre contingency that could possibly arise!

Amee, her mom, and brother, Michael

Describe yourself at 10 years old.
At 10 I was a happy, talkative kid who loved soccer and making waterslides in the backyard. But that was also the year I dislocated my kneecap for the first time (skiing), so I spent a lot of time on the sofa watching MTV with my cat and an ice pack.

What is your favorite meal/ snack in summer? Favorite summer beverage?
I love hamburgers. I didn’t eat beef for 12 years and hamburgers were the only thing I truly missed! I don’t have a particular favorite “summer” drink. I pretty much live on Starbucks black tea lemonade all year round.

What is your favorite movie and book?
There is no possible way I could answer this question.

Favorite summer vacation spot?
Somewhere far, far away.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

Amee visiting her sister, Allison, in Sweden

I love to eat, watch movies and travel. I’m an avid reader of historical non-fiction, but I throw in other genres sometimes as well. I also love karaoke, but trust me when I say, you do NOT want to be present for that!

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?
“The Lady and the Peacock,” a biography of Aung San Suu Kyi by Peter Popham. She is one of the people I admire most in the world.

Amee in Laos

What one food do you wish had zero calories?
Cheese!!! Or chocolate. Definitely mashed potatoes. Oh, and hamburgers. Tater tots would be nice. And anything Italian. Or Mexican. Milkshakes. I think I could do this all day.

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?
I moved around my whole life, so I don’t have a hometown. I was born in Florida, but also lived in California, Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Washington D.C., Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Japan and of course, Washington State. I went to high school in Oregon, though, so I guess that’s the only place where I still know my way around.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Playing badminton with my daughter on the private beach behind my villa in the Caribbean. Or possibly planning events for international students at EvCC. I could go either way.

What do you like to do on your days off?

Amee and her daughter, Chikako

Relax and enjoy time with my daughter, Chikako, spending money we don’t have.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.” Or just about any other sentence Mark Twain ever committed to paper.

 

Behind the Resume #35 – Michael Bowers

What is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?
I am the new Director of Housing at EvCC.  My responsibilities will be overseeing the operation and planning for our new residence halls (Mountain View and Cedar), managing the budget, and supervising the two Assistant Directors.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

Meeting a sheep at an EWU event: 2017


I have been in higher education for close to ten years.  I previously spent the last seven years working at Eastern Washington University, most recently as their Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities (student conduct).  Prior to that, I worked in housing for approximately seven years between three different institutions.

 

What was your most memorable job? Why?
Probably my previous job in student conduct.  Being the person who gets to read all the reports of what’s happening, I got to see a lot of things I couldn’t make up.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day consists of waking up, going to the gym for about an hour and a half (I’m down about 40 pounds since April!), going to work for the day, and then coming back home to relax, watch TV, and/or play video games.  I recently got a pass to the Woodland Park Zoo, so I’m guessing many more days will consist of going there, too!

Seven-year-old Mike asleep on the couch with his Hulk Hogan and Macho Man wrestling buddies.

Describe yourself at 10 years old.
I’d say I was someone who did not look remotely close to 10 years old.   As a 10-year-old I was about 5’7″ and had a size 11 shoe.  Outside of that, I was into sports, professional wrestling, and Power Rangers!

What is your favorite meal/ snack in summer? Favorite summer beverage?
Being from the South originally, I love sweet tea.  Pair that with a biscuit and some fried chicken, and I’m good to go.

What is your favorite movie and book?
My favorite movie would be any of the Fast and the Furious movies, but more specifically the most recent one, Fate of the Furious. Vin Diesel and The Rock give a performance that would put Tom Hanks and Henry Fonda to shame.
Book-wise, I’d have to go with The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.  I’m not a big reader, but I love dogs, so a book about dogs is awesome.

Favorite summer vacation spot?

 

Dancing with a dolphin in the Cayman Islands: October 2012

I’d have to say going back to North Carolina.  While it’s hot and humid during the summer, it’s nice to be able to go back and reconnect with friends and family.
What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
Video games definitely.  I’ve been into that dating back to the days of Atari.

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?
I started on Hillbilly Elegy not too long ago.  I’m not a frequent reader, so if there was a reading challenge, I would lose.
 

With my partner, Amanda, in Costa Rica: November 2014

What one food do you wish had zero calories?
Sesame chicken with white rice.  Whoever can come up with a zero-calorie version of that should win a Nobel Prize.

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?
I’m originally from the small-ish town of Kernersville, North Carolina. I was born just east of there in Greensboro, but moved when I was two, and my family still lives there.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully,  married with a kid and two puppies: one named Atticus and one named Truman.  I’d also like to be working in a job I enjoy and/or retired with lottery winnings.

What do you like to do on your days off?
Spend time with friends, play games, and/or not do much of anything.  I’m an introvert at heart, so it’s always nice to be able to re-charge.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?

“Life’s simple. You make choices and you don’t look back.” – The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Nine-year-old Mike mean mugging for the camera after a long day of swimming.

Behind the Resume #34 – Garet Studer

What is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?
I am the Director of Athletics, and my job is to work with coaches to ensure that we are serving, educating, and developing the 160+ student athletes across 11 different men’s and women’s sports here on the EvCC campus.

Top of Hamilton Mountain in the Columbia Gorge-2,400′

Tell us a little about your professional background.
I began coaching and teaching PE classes at Clark College right after grad school. I then transitioned into the role of the fitness center manager and intramural director, which was fantastic because I got to play soccer and flag football for an hour a couple days a week, and it was a part of my job! After nearly 5 years at Clark I had the opportunity to get back into Inter-Collegiate athletics, which is where my passion lies, and I began serving as the Director of Operations for the Northwest Athletic Conference. This is the same conference in which EvCC competes athletically. I learned a tremendous amount about how the league operates, and how to ultimately best serve our student athletes. While in this role, I actually visited EvCC several times for the NWAC championship men’s and women’s basketball tournament, and came to thoroughly enjoy the campus and the people here.

NWAC Exec. Director Marco Azurdia and I with the MLS Cup (though it was after the Sounders won last season)

What was your most memorable job? Why?
I’ve had a lot of great memories in the different jobs I’ve had over the years, but I think my very first real job in high school & college working summers painting houses taught me a lot about work ethic, serving others, and fiscal management. Those early experiences laid the foundation for who I became in my professional career.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Family supporting me at a 2015 Spartan Race

There is no such thing as a typical day, and that is what I love about my job. Each day presents new opportunities and challenges. I might spend the whole day at my desk, or out on the field. I work closely with coaches helping students to accomplish their athletic and educational goals.

 

Describe yourself at 10 years old.
I was a pretty quiet kid, and absolutely loved sports. However at that time, I think I was more interested in becoming a veterinarian when I grew up. When I learned that I would have to give animals shots, I quickly changed my mind and thought of some other things that would better suit me.

 

Last winter’s snow storm (Everett and his cousin)

What is your favorite meal/ snack in summer? Favorite summer beverage?
I’m a big fan of iced tea, and really love just getting outside and barbequing.

 

Favorite summer vacation spot?
As a kid my family took a lot of trips to Bend, Oregon. I love all the outdoors activities there, hiking, white water rafting, biking, golf, the list goes on. Truly a beautiful place, and I love going there still as an adult.

 

Me golfing at NWAC Hall of Fame Golf Tournament in Dallas, OR.

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
I am working on my golf game. Still a work in progress…

 

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?
I was born and raised in Battle Ground, WA and lived there through graduation, and even bought my first house just outside of Battle Ground, in Ridgefield, WA.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself at Everett CC, with one of the most respected athletic programs in the Northwest Athletic Conference.

Everett and I trying new hairstyles

What do you like to do on your days off?
My days off are always family time. My wife and I have a 2.5 year old son, and he is absolutely the highlight of our lives. We like to get outside and explore new things so in not being from around this area, we will do A LOT of exploring.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?

With my wife, Joy, and son, Everett on a hike


I have so many favorite quotes, most coming from the great John Wooden. I would say one of my favorites is to “Make each day your masterpiece.” I think we all have goals and aspirations, but so often we see those goals as so far out there and at times unobtainable. But if we do one thing each day, using each day to move a little closer to where we want to go, then ultimately we will get there.

 

Joy and I at Timbers Game (yes I am a Timbers fan, sorry Sounders)

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.