Colorado College staff -- here are the brief bios written by your nominees for Staff Council. Click on a name to quickly jump to a bio. We encourage you to read all of them before voting.

You can access the ballot here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=F2hxOksgAQns7w_2bA_2bc9gFg_3d_3d

Terri Akse (Information Management):
Hi everyone!  Thank you so much for the nomination to be on Staff Council; I am honored to be considered.  I am extremely interested in being a part of Staff Council for many reasons, first and foremost to support the positive role that Staff Council has played in making decisions that impact the campus community.  I believe that it is important for individuals to be involved with their workplaces, in order to truly illuminate the best aspects of the workplace, yet still striving to accomplish positive changes.  My two years at Colorado College have been amazing; I have enjoyed getting to know so many people (especially through the network upgrade process!) and look forward to meeting and working for you all!

Terri Akse

Diane Cobbett (Business Office):
I joined the CC Business Office Team on February 1, 2007. I am located in Armstrong Hall on the second floor, in the center of the Business Office, to meet and greet all students, faculty, staff and visitors. I am a 30-year resident of Colorado Springs and hail from Boston, MA. I had the privilege of attending a private high school in the Northeast Kingdom ( Vermont) where I was a competitive skier. Prior to coming to CC, I held the position of Executive Administrative Assistant with the U.S. Olympic Committee for 18 years working in Grants & Athlete Assistance; staff support to the Athletes’ Advisory Council; Drug Control; Sport Science & Technology; Sport Performance; staff support to the NCAA Grants Program; Facilities; and held a staff support position with the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games as a highlight to my Olympic career. I most recently held the position of Executive Administrative Assistant to the CEO at the American Numismatic Association working with marketing of their products; operations; special events; coordination of Board Meetings and Conventions. I am so excited to be among such special students, faculty and staff at Colorado College as the next step in my career. In the short time I have been with Colorado College in the Business Department I have been promoted from Receptionist to Staff Assistant to Barbara Mitchell. I look forward to a long career with the College and hope to make an impact and a difference in the lives of the people I interact with daily.

I am excited and honored to be nominated to serve on the Staff Council this term.

I also look forward to making a difference in areas that I am familiar with, looking at the whole picture for the quality and integrity of the staff and the school environment so that all staff, faculty and students are valued. I was so fortunate to have had the opportunity of 18 years with Olympic Athletes and staff to have made an impact and a difference in policies, operations and important decisions for the good of the organization.

If I am chosen for this position, I come with enthusiasm, an open mind, and an eagerness to be part of the bigger picture at Colorado College. Thank you for this opportunity.

Regards,

Diane Cobbett

Staff Assistant

Business Office

Stephanie Daigle (Bookstore):
My name is Stephanie Daigle and I have lived in Colorado for 37 years. My father was a career officer in the Army which meant that our family moved, on average; every 3 years. We lived in almost every region in the US with the exception of the South. My favorite posting was a four year stint in Pirmasens, Germany, it was a fantastic opportunity to actually live in a foreign country, not only learning the language fairly well but immersing oneself in the culture.

I have been married for 25 years and my husband and I have three daughters and four grandchildren all of whom live in Colorado Springs which allows us to spend much of our free time with our extended family. Gardening, cooking and exploring Colorado history are some of things I enjoy doing when time allows.

My professional career has consisted of retail bookstore management with both Waldenbooks and Borders Books. I am passionate about reading and literacy, I feel that it is the basis for not only a successful life in terms of career and “real world” goals, but affords readers the opportunity to explore a diverse world of ideas and experiences that would not be otherwise available to us. Another benefit of working as a manager is the opportunity it gave me to do something I truly enjoy doing, which is to work with people of varied backgrounds and experience; with special emphasis on training and development.

I am very fortunate to have been in my current position as bookstore manager for Colorado College for a little over five months. I have never experienced a more welcoming and nurturing environment, both on a professional and personal level.

I am very interested in continuing to educate myself on the many facets of the Colorado College culture both for personal and professional growth. I feel that my years of business and Human Resources experience will allow me to contribute to the Mission and goals of our Staff Council.

Elaine (Margaret) Lutz (Campus Safety):
I am honored to accept the nomination to serve on the Staff Council. In my current capacity as a Safety Department Patrol Officer I have had the pleasure to interact with numerous members of the college community and feel that, by serving as their advocate, I can assist them in their ongoing pursuit of excellence!

Although I am fairly new at CC I have been employed in the security industry for over 13 years. Some of my duties have included physical security/safety, supervision, communications and executive protection.  I am married with three children.

Elaine Lutz

Patrol Officer

Safety Department

Shaleen Prehm (Human Resources):
I am the HR Manager/Benefits Administrator, arriving at CC in November 2006.

Serving on staff council would give me the opportunity to provide professional support within the college. I welcome the chance to identify concerns relating to staff, to seek their solutions, and to provide a channel of communication for staff with senior staff, faculty, and the board of directors.

To serve on staff council would allow me to be an active and engaged member of the campus community and I feel it is imperative to make decisions that support the continued well-being of the institution and foster a positive working atmosphere for the staff.

Shaleen Prehm

Penny Raines (Business Office):
Born and raised in Colorado Springs.  Started my relationship with CC at age 8, taking many years of ballet classes here.  Have worked at many jobs, but started with CC in July of 1972 and never left.  The challenges of the job & the job itself have changed often enough to keep me interested.  I was on the Staff Council once long ago.  I have always felt that it's the obligation of everyone on campus to teach students when they have the opportunity.

I can obviously bring years of experience with the College to the position, having seen many changes over the years and had something to do with many aspects of College life.  I have a very logical & organized outlook, which makes me see the most reasonable path to take. I am most apt to listen and contribute only when I have heard the other sides.

Penny Rains

Tammy Riddell (Boettcher Health):
I accept the nomination to run for Staff Council and to represent both nursing and  Boettcher Health Center.

I grew up in a small Northeast Texas town on the border of Arkansas. My family was very poor and didn't encourage education. Lucky for me, I was able to go to nursing school with the assistance of a Federal PELL Grant. I received my LVN in 1998 and went on to receive my RN in 2000.

Since then, I've mostly worked in Cardiovascular ICU's. My last job, I was night shift charge nurse for the Cardiovascular and Heart Transplant Unit at Medical City Dallas Hospital in Dallas, TX.  I still moonlight prn in ICU's in Denver.

So you ask me what can I bring to you and the Staff Council, real life experience, hard work, and dedication. But mostly, I think I could best offer hope. I know the struggles of living through poverty and I know the life changing blessings of starting to say "I can" instead of "I can't". 

Thank you,

Tammy Riddell RN

Ava Shawkins (Development):
Ava Shawkins, Advancement Division, Staff Assistant

Ava is the assistant to the Development Events Coordinator and the 1874 Society Coordinator.  Originally from the wild, wonderful State of West Virginia, Ava has an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Marshall University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Louisville, where she graduated cum laude.  She met her husband, John, while attending Marshall University, and the two have been married for 18 years.  Ava has previously worked as an advocate for victims' rights in the criminal justice systems of Alabama and Kentucky.  She would like to serve as a Staff Council member for the opportunity to share ideas and learn more from others on campus.         

McKinley Sielaff (Tutt Library):
I have worked at CC for over 5 years now and appreciate the work done on our behalf by council members. Since coming to CC I have attended a lot of events and programs and I have served on a few committees learning a lot about the college and meeting many of my fellow staffers.

I work in the library and get to interact with a wide variety of people from faculty to staff to students and the public. I think this gives me a unique perspective and balance of what is happening on campus. I would like to continue to contribute to our community. I believe staff council is very important to our community and I could well represent the needs and wishes of the staff to the college administration.

McKinley Sielaff

Tutt Library