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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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

What 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 #30 – Jennifer Enger

What 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.

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.”