Comings and Goings: Get to know Student Employment Coordinator Heather DeLancett

Heather DeLancett joined Lewis & Clark in April as our new student employment coordinator. The Source caught up with her to learn more about her background and to get some advice on hiring and retaining student employees.

Can you share a bit about your background?

I’m originally from Orlando, Florida, but I was lured to Portland in my mid-20s for the unique attitudes, fashion, art, and gastronomical delights that are so abundant here.  I finished my BA in philosophy at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. I also worked as a fiscal clerk for their student government. My husband and I have recently returned to Portland. Between his employment at the University of Portland and mine at Lewis & Clark, we have awesome library and interlibrary loan access.

What impresses you most about Lewis & Clark?

My department directors and coworkers are wonderful. These people impress me every day, and I have never been on a better team. The trees here are awe-inspiring to me, and I find the whole campus enchanting and magical.

What common concerns do staff have about student workers? What advice do you give?

The two most pressing concerns my student supervisors seem to currently have are these:

• What is the proper procedure and timing for student employee hiring?
• How do I use Workday?

With any new software implementation, business processes need to be reenvisioned, poked and prodded, and sometimes entirely reconstructed. I am constructing all new training materials for both student supervisors and student employees for fall 2014. During the summer, I hope to meet with many student supervisors to get feedback and ideas for making these processes clear, consistent, and a lot less confusing. Moving forward, with a little patience and some firm determination to improve our processes, we can make our student employment program a shining example of rich and rewarding work experience gained by our student employees. They can proudly carry their new skills beyond Lewis & Clark and into the world.

How can staff enrich the employment experience of their student workers?

By giving thoughtful and detailed explanations in the “experience and skills gained” section of the job descriptions, student supervisors can assist student employees in focusing on the value of the experience. This helps them create great resumes. Additionally, this helps staff and faculty reflect on how to advise, interact with, and assist student employees as they learn new roles and responsibilities.

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy discussing and debating philosophy with my husband, making art—especially collage—cooking, reading, yoga, meditation, learning new things, watching films and documentaries, writing letters, maintaining connections with my wide web of friends worldwide, and making new friends—like the new hummingbird in the backyard.

Comings and Goings Update

Several people have joined the community recently, and some continuing employees have taken on new roles and responsibilities at Lewis & Clark:

Brent Blackwell, shipping and receiving coordinator, CAS Bookstore; Everett Carter, special collections and archives librarian, Watzek Library; Heather DeLancett, student employment coordinator, Human Resources; Paul Dewey, maintenance engineer, Facilities Services; Doug Erickson, associate director for special collections and archives, Watzek Library; Lindsay Farr,administrative assistant, CAS Admissions; Zachariah Gilbert, controls engineer, Facilities Services; Jason Holmgren, general maintenance, Facilities Services; Pamela Juranas, stewardship coordinator, Institutional Advancement; Jeremy Loew, associate head athletic trainer, Physical Education and Athletics; Deanna Oothoudt, associate director of marketing, Public Affairs and Communications; Kade Peden, admissions counselor, CAS Admissions; Nathaniel Stoll, administrative coordinator, Environmental Studies; Megan Taliaferro, special assistant to the associate dean, Teacher Education; and Jana Wilkinson, program coordinator, Career Development Center.

The following people have left Lewis & Clark. Here’s wishing them good luck in their new adventures:

Sharon Bosserman-Benson, director of planned giving, Institutional Advancement; Krista Francisco, interim assistant athletic director, Physical Education and Athletics; Mike Gipson, buildings supervisor, Facilities Services; Minda Heyman, director, Career Development Center; Mari Kennedy, law school shuttle driver, Law Facilities; Rachel King, technology support coordinator, Information Technology; Maria Marshall, staff psychologist, Counseling Service; Alisha Robinson, departmental specialist, CAS Admissions; Paige Spence, clinic outreach coordinator, Dean of the Law School; and Duane Wheeler, duplicating center manager, Law Duplicating Center.

Caleb Diehl ’16 contributed to this story.