Barbara
Parks bids farewell to CSULB after 39 years
Retirement:
After 39 years in the Public Affairs and
Publications Office, Barbara Parks retires
to pursue traveling and volunteering.
By
May Ahmad
On-line
Forty-Niner
Barbara
Parks bid farewell to her friends and colleagues
and to the institution that has played a
major role in her life since she first began
work here in 1964.
After
39 years in the Public Affairs and Publications
Office at Cal State Long Beach, Parks, an
editor and writer who graduated from Indiana
University, Bloomington in 1963 with a bachelor's
degree in journalism, said she is ready
for retirement, but not for settling down
at home.
Colleagues
of Parks said her retirement is a major
loss to the department because she is an
expert in her field.
"She
was absolutely one of the best copy editors
I have worked with; a real eagle-eye," said
Toni Beron, assistant vice president for
public affairs and publication.
Whether
it was editing newsletters, writing articles
for campus magazines and the university
Web site, preparing scripts for the Beach
View cable TV program, proofreading or writing
press releases, Parks' colleagues said she
took her work seriously.
"She
checked and double checked to make sure
things were correct," said Shayne Schroeder,
from the Public Affairs Office.
"If
any of us have questions, Barbara is the
first person we go to."
Although
Parks is officially retired from the university,
she does not plan on sitting at home and
relaxing. She plans to do some traveling
in the future; however, she said she has
already begun serving on the Orange County
Grand Jury.
"I
don't see Barbara as a person who retires
to sit on her back porch," Beron said.
"I
am moving from one exciting and stimulating
job to another--and that is easing the pain
of my leaving the campus," Parks said.
Aside
from the everyday work she did on the job,
Parks kept herself busy in numerous programs
on campus. She was a member of the Friends
of the Japanese Garden, the International
Community Council, the 49er Athletic Association
and many other programs.
"She's
an outstanding professional," said Beron,
who worked with Parks for 15 years. "She
cares about the university and the work
she does for the university and she cares
about the people she works with."
Parks
is also a volunteer in many off-campus organizations
such as the National Association of Scouters
in Southern California and the First Lutheran
Church in Long Beach.
"Volunteerism
is an important part of my life and something
I really enjoy," Parks said.
Parks
considers the friendships she made on campus
and the enjoyable working environment are
among the main reasons she stayed at CSULB
so long.
"Working
in a university environment is very stimulating
and then interacting with such wonderful
staff, faculty and students makes it even
more enjoyable," Parks said.
Throughout
the years, Parks underwent many experiences.
She said that among her favorite experiences
was her work with sculptors from around
the world during the 1965 International
Sculpture Symposium.
For
her many years of dedication to the university
and the community as a whole, Parks said
she was recognized for her efforts on campus
and off with such awards as the Employee
of the Month award in July of 1993, the
Outstanding Staff Member award in 1997 and
the Community Service Award in 2002.
"I
feel quite honored to be recognized by my
colleagues and friends," Parks said.
Claudia
Albert, administrative assistant for public
affairs, said that Parks' 39 years of contributions
will also be celebrated by faculty members
and students at a farewell party in Earl
Burns Miller Japanese Garden on Friday Sep.
26.
Friends
and colleagues of Parks said she will be
missed and she will leave a big hole in
the department. "There are certain people
you can replace, she's not one of them,"
Schroeder said.
"I
am moving from one exciting and stimulating
job to another and that is easing the pain
of my leaving the campus."
--
Barbara Parks
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