I’ve been married to Sean Snitzer for 24 years. We met at church camp when we were in junior high and started dating our sophomore year at MCC. Our children are now 19 and 17 years old. As we embark on the new frontier of parenting adult children (almost in the case of our daughter), we’re in the midst of reinventing ourselves as a couple. After years of volunteerism and activities related to our children - PTO, Boy Scouts, the church’s Wednesday night youth program and Sunday school, marching band, band concerts, swimming, etc. - we suddenly have more free time. Our daughter is a senior in high school and very independent, yet we’re still “on call”, which means we’re in this window of time where we have lots of free time but don’t always make plans because we want to be available if we’re called upon. We’re starting to embark on new adventures. I’ve moved into a leadership role at our church, which is fulfilling yet taxing at times. We recently took pickle-ball classes and tried out paddle boarding. I could easily get addicted to paddle boarding, and I’m contemplating buying a board so that I can board while Sean kayaks and fishes. And of course, we’re looking forward to more camping and to reinventing our family adventures as our kids become adults and their interests and availability change.
The past couple of years have been filled with change. The challenges of 2020 and 2021 have caused me to reflect - on what matters most, what I hope for my family, and what I want for my life and career.
In the midst of the turmoil that was 2020, like many I was frequently drained by the rapid changes coming at me. Although I’m an introvert and like a quiet work environment, working from home with endless virtual meetings took its toll. When my energy reached its lowest points, I discovered that I had to step away, get outside, and reconnect with nature. I reinstated a daily walk with Jessie, our family dog – she relishes our new routine. I found that at least once a month, a bigger escape was needed. My family and I would take off to visit the river or go quad and motorcycle riding. Lifelong campers, we were fortunate to still be able to go on vacation to a destination we love, spending a week, or even a long weekend, camping in Arizona’s White Mountains.
Even the campouts were a little different. My family and two others have camped together for 15 years - 6 adults, 8 kids (who are now in their late teens and early 20s), 2 grandparents, and 5 dogs. We were nervous at first. Do we still have our shared happy hour and meals? Do we need to wear masks? By the end of the week we’d figured it out. Dealing with change is truly the only constant.
The insight I’ve gained in this part of my journey is how important it is for me to make time to get away. When I’m feeling depleted, I can recharge by getting outside and spending time with the people I love. I’m also an avid reader and need my daily dose of the written word. Books I’ve most recently read are Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection and Aimie Runyan’s The Girls on the Line.
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As I’ve moved into the Associate Vice President role over the past few months after serving 20 years at MCC, first as the manager for internal communications and alumni relations and then a three-year stint as the interim director for Institutional Advancement, I’ve reflected on my journey, how I’ve changed, and the philosophy that grounds me.
We’re a culmination of our experiences. My journey started as a high school DECA student interested in marketing and advertising. I then shifted gears and decided I wanted to teach high school English, which led me to MCC before transferring to ASU to pursue a bachelor’s in English. My first job post ASU was at the University of Arizona in the Teaching Center, then in the Faculty Center for Instructional Innovation where I was the program coordinator for a grant to create a Virtual Adaptive Learning Architecture for students. Working on the grant provided insights into reusable learning objects and tailoring lessons based on a students’ learning styles, which I found fascinating. While at the UA, I earned my master’s degree in Educational Leadership through NAU’s statewide program. I would never have guessed the twists and turns in my career and educational journey would open the door for me to return to the Valley and come “home” to MCC. I never would have imagined that twenty years later, I would still be at MCC in the role that I’m now in. I am truly blessed to have opportunities to learn, grow, and work with and beside colleagues at MCC.
I’m grateful that my first role at MCC was to oversee alumni relations and internal communications. While at times it felt like an odd combination, I enjoyed the opportunity to work with past students and community members and experience their perceptions of MCC (they love MCC!) while working across the college in the internal communications realm to gather the news and information to share with our employees. It gave me the opportunity to see the many facets of our college. I’ve also greatly enjoyed serving as one of the tri-chairs for MCC’s Graduation Committee. The joy of commencement is unparalleled and the ultimate tribute to student success - I’m glad to be part of the planning each year.
I continue to be guided by my belief that education changes lives and communities, that community colleges offer opportunities to students who may not otherwise have the chance to pursue post-secondary education, and that the work we do every day makes a difference. As a leader, I believe that working together is key to success, and that collaboration, inclusion, drawing on people’s strengths, and acknowledging work well done are hallmarks of effective leadership. I also believe that leadership is a journey that requires self-reflection. One of the lessons that I’ve learned is that I need to be more willing to share my story and my why. Thank you Dr. Eddie Webb for challenging me by inviting me to contribute an article.
Credits:
Created with an image by MarandaP - "compass orientation map"