In this post we recognize Amy Holbrook, Academic Coordinator, Economics, for her 25 years of Service to Middlebury. Amy shares some wonderful advice, some of her fondest Midd memories, and the significant things she is enjoying outside of work at the moment. Read on to learn more about Midd from Amy’s point of view.
What did you do prior to work at Middlebury College and where were you located?
I grew up in Salisbury and went to Middlebury High School. I was the secretary for the Agway Building Supply Center on Rte. 7 South (which went out of business). After working all day, I would go down the road to work night shifts carhopping at the A & W. During that time period, I also worked shifts as a gas attendant for Agway Petroleum and did some bookkeeping for them as well. I spent 5 years working for Rosie’s Restaurant where I began as a dishwasher for lack of other openings. Within two years, I went from dishwasher to busser, to wait staff, to hostess, and then was asked to do bookkeeping because every time I hosted my register came out to the penny, which led to a position as office manager. After having children, I also did registered day care out of my home. I began a licensed day care, Maple Street Child Center, in the first house we built in Salisbury. I also took computer and accounting courses at CCV while my oldest 2 sons (now 33 and 31) were in elementary school and my third son (now 27) was preschool age.
What job titles have you held while working at Middlebury?
In 1993, I began as the assistant to the executive secretary (Donna McDurfee) for the American Collegiate Consortium (ACC) which was a grant-funded undergraduate exchange program between the former Soviet Union and the surrounding Baltic States based at Middlebury College. After Donna moved to a position in Academic Affairs, I became the bookkeeper of $4 million in grant funds for the ACC. Eventually, the funding went to another program and I ended taking a position with the economics department as an administrative assistant, which due to the evolution of the position became retitled Academic Department Coordinator. I also worked a second job for Middlebury College Catering as a catering team member and bartender.
Take us back to your first year as an employee at the College. What were the most significant things happening in your life outside of work then?
When I began working for the ACC, the position was part-time, so it was perfect as I had begun a licensed day care that I was managing the business aspect of as well as raising my 3 sons. When the grant funding stopped for the ACC and I had to find a new job I was also in the process of getting divorced so I needed to move into a full-time position. I was losing hope after applying to so many positions in the Middlebury area and being told I was overqualified. I still remember being interviewed by 3 senior faculty (who are no longer in the department) in a small office space in Munroe. I was so nervous but I ended up with the position and have been growing and changing with the department ever since.
What are the most significant things happening in your life outside of work now (that you’d like to share)?
I am raising a 12 year old, trying to finish my house that I have been working on for the past 23 years since my first divorce, and continue to spending a lot of extracurricular time with Middlebury College students. I recently found out my second son who is a sculptor living in San Diego (with his wife) will begin graduate school at the University of Buffalo in the fall. So, that is very exciting. I am also participating in my 15th Relay for Life at Middlebury College on April 28!
Have your interests/hobbies/athletic endeavors changed over the past 25 years? Have any of these been influenced by your work at the College or due to your association with others who work here?
My interests and hobbies have not changed over the past 25 years, however, many are enjoyed with Middlebury College’s students (e.g. hiking, billiards, bowling, mini-golf, photography, baking, etc.)
What is your fondest memory or experience that you’ve had while working at Middlebury?
I have so many that it is difficult to just pick one. Some that come to mind…Being awarded the Staff Appreciation Award endowed by Rudy Haerle; having my 4th and final son (at 42 years old) and getting three surprise baby showers on campus; hosting an annual international thanksgiving dinner; participating in a student production of the Vagina Monologues; participating in Middlebury’s student led Relay For Life for the past 15 years as an Ova Chick team member; having each of my oldest three sons graduate from 5 year college programs; being selected as a co-recipient of the inaugural Virtue Family Exceptional Service Award established by a gift from Ted ‘82 and Dani Shaw Virtue ‘82; and having my oldest two sons get married…one to a Midd alum!!
Many people change jobs/careers multiple times in their working life. Something must have kept you here for 25 years. Is it anything that you can put into words?
When I started with the ECON department I was a single mom who needed to support her sons. Honestly, I didn’t know how it was going to go since most jobs I had I left in the first 5 years out of boredom. While there are constants in the job flow, there are many variables too, which keeps the work flow interesting. Due to the responsibilities of my position, I am continually learning new systems and processes as well as teaching others, which also keeps my job interesting. I love being busy. I love feeling challenged. I love learning. I love teaching. I love organizing and planning. I love interacting with the students. Working for the largest academic department at Middlebury allows me to do all of the things I love.
What are your plans for the next 25 years?
My youngest son is only 12 so I will be working to support him while also surviving the teenage years once again. In another decade, once he is through college, I hope to do some traveling to visit alumni and their families that I have bonded with over the years. But, I imagine I will become a grandmother sometime between now and then which may alter my plans somewhat.
Do you have a favorite place on campus?
As far as comfort, my office is my favorite place. I come in and am surrounded by pictures of special moments with students and, of course, my four sons. My office is also like a mini cultural museum filled with mementos students (and some faculty) have brought me from their home, study abroad, or travel. For beauty, I would have to say that the Starr Library Reading Room in Axinn is the most beautiful place on campus. The hardwood floors, the variegated green marble fireplaces beautifully trimmed with carved wood, the framed mirrored upper section on each end that provides the illusion that the room continues on, the gold stenciled borders on the dark green painted walls that reach upward to the wonderfully carved molding and ceiling work are all visually stunning. I am very grateful that this architectural wonder was kept as the core when the Axinn Center was created.
Is there any person on campus (or retiree, former employer) that mentored you, or you feel helped you grow into your job, grow to enjoy your work and your time at the College?
I have worked with many faculty and staff over the years who have all helped me grow both personally and professionally. Donna McDurfee, my first supervisor at Middlebury College was the first in a long line of many wonderful role models! Middlebury College is fortunate to have so many dedicated employees (despite its current state of affairs) and I am proud to have them as colleagues. I am especially grateful for my department members. They are very supportive folks who have seen me through many good and bad times over the years. They are more than colleagues to me; they are my family! And, I can’t say enough wonderful things about our students. They are bright and amazing individuals with so much to offer. The additional time I get to spend with them is truly a gift.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new employee at Middlebury, what would it be?
Love what you do because there is no greater reward!
Is there anything else that you would like to share about your time at Middlebury?
Learn more about our students….where they come from, what their joys are, what their struggles are, what they believe, and what their plans are, etc. Do more with our students…, have a meal with them, learn about their culture and share your culture with them, get them off campus to experience the greater area, take them hiking, biking, bowling, shopping, etc. You will enrich their lives as well as your own. For those of you who work in a position where you don’t have opportunity to interact with students, but would like to make a difference, check out Middlebury’s Friends of International Students (FIS) Host Program, http://www.middlebury.edu/international/isss/fis