Molly - Dona Ana Branch Community College

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Advising Specialist Kelly Arias joined DACC in March 2004 as assistant advising coordinator in Technical and Industrial Studies. The title later was changed to advising specialist. Leaving briefly in May 2007 to finish her master’s degree at NMSU in family and child science, Arias decided to return part time/temporary in October, and then became full time/temporary last January. On the day she received her MS, her daughter Katherine received her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her current job is fulfilling, Arias says. Kelly Arias “I like being able to help students with their classes, schedules, and minor problems that pop up during the semester. I am fortunate to also get to help out with other special projects; this keeps me from getting bored,” she said. “Mostly, I like the other people that work here. To say that ‘we are like a family here’ sounds cliché, but it’s the truth ... I am blessed to have been welcomed back to DACC with such warmth and genuine enthusiasm. It is good to be home.” Until recently, she thought she was the only “non-traditional” student in her family of origin. However, she recently discovered that her grandmother received her bachelor’s degree in math and education in 1959, at the age of 59. “I can’t believe I had never known that until now,” she said. Before coming to DACC, Arias worked as an accounting technician at WERC in the College of Engineering. She retired from the US Air Force in 1997 and, while there, was an electronics technician, technical training instructor, and public affairs specialist. She also earned three associate degrees while in the Air Force. She holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College, in addition to her recently earned master’s degree. She grew up in California, Missouri, a small town about midway between St. Louis and Kansas City. An interesting fact: “I’m addicted to ‘Meercat Manor.’ It’s like a soap opera, with fur,” she said. Arias and her husband, Jaime, recently celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary. There are four children between them: Jason, Gabriel, Katherine, and Kara. “I am just now rediscovering my hobbies,” Arias said, adding that homework has taken up her time until now. Reading and gardening are fun activities. “I’m also getting my social life back” she said. “I enjoy participating in church activities again and having more time for family friends. And, sometimes I enjoy doing absolutely nothing at all.” Morris, continued from page 1 worked with the Gates Foundation in establishing information technology systems for the Navajo Nation and other Native American communities in the Four Corners area. Another accomplishment was serving as a project director for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. Molly is survived by her daughter Julie McGetrick Clyde of Jersey City, N.J., and son Brendan McGetrick of Beijing, China. She also leaves behind three brothers — Terrance, George and Thomas. She was married for 30 years to James McGetrick of Providence. A celebration of her life will be held at 6 p.m. July 6 at Open Table of Christ Church in Providence. COMING EVENTS, IMPORTANT DATES July 7 — Second Summer Session begins. 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 — Scholarship presentation featuring Sunland Park Racetrack scholarship donors and GED-student recipients. July 23 — Last day to drop with a “W.” Aug. 1 — Last day to withdraw from DACC/ NMSU. Aug. 8 — Last day of classes. Aug. 14 — Last day to submit staff tuition waiver for FALL 2008. Aug. 21 — Classes begin. Aug. 21 — Last day to submit degree or certificate application without late fees. Aug. 25 — Last day to register, make payment. Aug. 26 — Late registration begins; late fees apply. Sept. 1 — Labor Day Holiday. Contact! is produced by the DACC Marketing and Communications Unit. Your comments, suggestions and submissions are always welcome. Contact Melissa Bollschweiler, editor/writer/photographer, at 527-7523; Gloria Domínguez, word processing specialist/photographer, at 528-7066, or John Paulman, unit coordinator, at 527-7649. 2
Jennifer Elflein Placement Specialist Jennifer Elflein in Career Placement & Cooperative Education joined DACC as a workstudy student in the same office beginning January 2006. She later became a regular employee, having held her current position since October 2007. A short departure to another job made her realize that she preferred her DACC position. An Albuquerque native, Elflein holds a BBA in finance from NMSU and currently is pursuing an MA in educational management and development. ”I was bound and determined to use my finance degree and obtain a Master of Accountancy (and eventually a CPA license) when I started working in Career Placement as a workstudy,” she said. “After I graduated and started my master’s program, I started to get more and more involved with the office. Once I really started working with the students more and participating in more ‘relevant’ activities, I fell in love with it. Being a placement specialist gives me the opportunity to advise students, present to classes, and do the statistical reporting that I loved so much as a finance and accounting student.” Elflein is confident of the reason she’s here, and what she enjoys most about her job. “The students,” she said. “So many of our students have come from a trying background and they feel privileged to be here getting an education. I feel honored to play a small part in their success.” Elflein, who formerly spent five-and-a-half years as a manager for Outback Steakhouse, is a self-proclaimed sports addict. “No matter what time of the year, I’m intensely following one of my teams which include, but are not limited to, Aggie football and basketball, 49er football, Red Sox baseball, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing. Family includes “a lovely husband, Ken, whom I’ve been married to for nearly two years,” she said. Her mom and stepdad live in Albuquerque, and her dad and grandma are in North Carolina. She has two sisters, one of whom is a DACC student, and, “Oh yeah, and our baby, Chuck — the cutest cocker spaniel in the whole world.” As for hobbies, Elflein says, “I love to read, tailgate, barbeque, shop, cook, entertain, and travel — I think I’m destined to see the world.” Olivas earns local, regional scholarships Diagnostic Sonography major Flor Olivas has earned two scholarships to help in her studies. The Washington native, who holds a 3.7 grade-point average, first earned the Soroptimist International of Las Cruces Woman’s Opportunity Award Scholarship. Flor Olivas The local group then submitted her name to the regional group, the Golden West Region, which granted her the award. The region includes New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California and El Paso. Olivas is a single mother of five children ranging in age from 10 to 2. She first became interested in studying sonography after undergoing the procedure while pregnant and becoming fascinated with the process and the outcome. She says that she loves looking at all sonograms, and that helping women see their as-yet unborn babies would be a fulfilling career. Olivas currently is a work-study employee in DACC’s Counseling and Services for Students with Disabilities Office. Soroptimist International is a women’s service organization advancing the status of women, children and families. The awards generally are presented to women who are heads of their households and want to further their education. Generous donations from the VFW Post 10124, along with S.I. fund-raising activities, have helped to fund these scholarships locally. 3
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Molly - Dona Ana Branch Community College

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