It is not often that we get to recognize a staff member for 40 years of service to Curry College. At Celebrate Curry on February 2, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to honor one such employee, Lee Harrington, and thank her for her years of dedication to Curry College.

"Strangely enough, it doesn't seem like that long," says Lee. "Time passes very quickly because so much happens here. Every day is new and different. I feel fortunate to work with great people and to be in an environment that values intellectual dialog."

"Throughout the years, I've always said that my favorite part of the job is the students. It's why we are all here. I especially like to see them years after Curry and see what they are doing with their lives." Lee tells of the time she ran into a Curry graduate on a train in Paris, and another graduate in London.

Lee Harrington began her Curry career as a work-study student in the library. She took a semester off in her senior year to work full-time at the library in 1968 in order to save money for tuition. Lee was able to eventually reduce her hours and complete her course work, earning a BA in Communication from Curry College in 1969.

Lee continued to work in the library until 1972. After serving as the College Receptionist for a summer, she joined the Public Safety office as the administrative assistant to the part-time Director, Jeremiah Harrington (no, they were not related). Lee attended the State Police Academy for certification and was promoted to Assistant Director of Public Safety in 1976. Two years later she became Director of Public Safety and Telecommunications upon Jeremiah Harrington's departure.

Lee continued in that capacity until the mid 90s when Telecommunications and Public Safety became separate departments. Lee was named the Director of Telecommunications in 1995 where she continues to serve the Curry College community today.

Congratulations Lee on reaching this milestone and thank you for your 40 years of service to Curry College!

"Patient, kind, dependable, hardworking, loyal, trustworthy, friendly, and a great listener." These are words used to describe the most recent Credit to Curry winner, Tish Pieper. Tish was the latest target of the Credit to Curry Prize Patrol committee who surprised her with the award at the Celebrate Curry event earlier this month.

"To receive this award, especially on a night like that, was so special. I was on cloud nine all night! It is truly such an honor for me."

Here is what those who nominated Tish had to say: "In Tish's current role in PAL, she is using many of the same characteristics we loved about her when she was in the Admission Office. She talks with the Guidance community, prospective parents and students with a very professional yet empathetic way, and always with a smile. She establishes such strong connections with families that they often maintain contact with her after enrollment. She handles difficult parents and guidance counselors with poise and gentleness that manages to diffuse many otherwise problematic situations. Problem-solving is a notable strength. She is often the first to uncover a potential procedural hurdle before it becomes a major problem or to suggest a change in process that results in countless saved hours and improved processing."

Of working directly with so many parents of prospective students, Tish says, "My favorite part of my job is assisting students and parents. I try to put myself in their shoes and realize that the college admission process is a very stressful time for them. I've been a parent on the other end and I remember the anxiety. I try to be patient and help them get through the process."

Tish adds, "Being with Curry for so many years, I can't help but be proud to see the growth Curry has experienced and I am excited for the plans for Curry's future. It is rewarding to be part of it."

Congratulations to Tish on this well deserved recognition!

Did you know :

• Alum Todd DeLorenzo'95 has made quite a name for himself on Capitol Hill and in the entertainment industry?
• You can view a gallery of Curry College student art work online?
• Eighty nursing students and faculty have been trained by the MA Department of Health as smallpox vaccine administrators?
• Dr. Tracy Wang, in conjunction with the Nursing and Politics & History Departments, is planning a second study abroad program in China for this summer?
• Jared Kant '06 is published a book, The Thought That Counts: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

We all know that change is nothing new on the Curry campus; new buildings, new faces, new academic programs and new offices. The latest changes have taken place at 65 Atherton Street. If you haven't been to that office recently, you may be surprised to find everyone has moved around.

Here is a run-down of the recent changes:

The Office of Student Activities has moved to the 65A offices, formerly the Graduate Studies office space, on the first and second floors. The student Clubs & Organizations now has its own space on the ground level of 65A which includes an office for The Currier Times and SGA. Mary Stone, Alcohol Wellness Coordinator, and Michelle Sarmenta, Spiritual Life Coordinator, have offices on the second floor. Brett Wellman, Assistant Director of Residence Life, and Erica Humphrey, Director of Judicial Affairs, are located on the second floor of 65B.

The payroll department, Nancy Carey, Maryann Bottom and payroll's newest employee, April Swiniuch, has moved into the ground level of 65B, the former Student Activities space. Alicia Dunphy-Culp, First Year Experience Coordinator and Charles Anaele, Technical Support Specialist for Student Affairs are also on the ground level of 65B.

Next time you are on that end of campus, stop in say hello and check out the reorganized space.

A naturalist from the Blue Hills Trailside Museum recently visited the Curry Early Childhood Center (CECC) to present a program on "Animals in Winter." This is the third in a series of nature education programs by Massachusetts Audubon that were funded by a grant to the Center. The toddler classes visited with an owl and a snake. The preschool classes had a lesson on how these two animals adapt to winter in New England.

These special programs are a wonderful complement to the science curriculum already in place at the Center, as well as the long range plan to turn the CECC playground into an outdoor classroom. Last spring, the preschool classes hatched butterflies and released them into the newly planted Bird and Butterfly Garden. The garden was created with generous donations of perennials and bird baths from members of Curry College community.

The CECC provides education and quality child care for children ages three-months to five-years old. The Center is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the 2008-2009 school year. Applications are due on April 1, 2008. If you would like more information about the Center, please contact Director Erica Pierce at epierce0803@curry.edu.

Curry College greatly values the contribution that our staff and faculty members make to our community's success. We are proud of the many benefits available to you as a result of this success.

Over the course of the past year, Human Resources has teamed up with the Technology Center in an effort to develop a means to quantify, and share with you the value of all of these benefits. The final product is our newly developed Benefits Statement.

The Benefit Statement includes information regarding Curry's contribution to benefits such as Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Health and Dental Insurance, as well as information on the Retirement Plan, Tuition Benefits and Time off Benefits. These statements will be sent to the home address of all benefits-eligible faculty and staff members in coming weeks. Please take some time to look them over, and see just how much you are valued by Curry.