Beth Cummins, ’00 Office Assistant certificate graduate and 2018 Administrative Professional Associate degree graduate
We love to highlight our alumni and are especially proud of the alumni that come back to campus as employees of the college.
Beth Cummins, ’00 Office Assistant certificate graduate and 2018 Administrative Professional Associate degree graduate now serves as the Flexible Learning Coordinator.
I chose Southwest Tech because it was close to home. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to go to school for, but knew I liked typing, computers, and helping others. The one-year Office Assistant Program was a good fit for me. As a student I learned to appreciate Southwest Tech’s small class sizes and expert instructors.
After graduating from the Office Assistant Program in 2000, I worked as a receptionist and admissions clerk at a local hospital. Just two months after graduation, a position opened up at Southwest Tech for a Word Processing Specialist/College Receptionist. I was fortunate to have been selected for that position. At the time, not every employee had their own computer. My job was to type and format documents for many people on campus including exams for instructors. Soon after starting, each employee got their own computer, and there was not a need for Word Processing. I then transitioned to other roles throughout the years including Student Services Specialist, Online Learning Assistant, and now Flexible Learning Coordinator.
Southwest Tech has supported me in so many ways. With professional development, training, and supportive supervisors and coworkers along the way, I have furthered my education and pushed myself to explore new positions within the college. I eventually completed my associate’s degree in the Administrative Professional program and recently began adjunct teaching Microsoft Office classes for the college. I never dreamed I would be teaching when I started as the College Receptionist 19 years ago!
I am so fortunate that I get to work with students, instructors, and staff just by doing my job. It’s the best of all worlds. My proudest moments are when I know I’ve helped a student or instructor understand something (usually Schoology related); knowing that I was able to make their journey a little easier, is one of the best feelings.
My advice to students is to try get involved with as many campus activities as possible, especially online students. Technology makes connecting to campus easier than ever.
When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, getting together with friends, baking, trying new recipes, and camping.