Jeanne Stalker Puts a Friendly Face on the Welcome Center

Jeanne’s work coordinating the Welcome Center helps the student experience.

 

Jeanne Stalker with son Anthony (middle) at a Giants game.

Jeanne Stalker embodies the friendly attitude that defines Cañada College. Her efforts coordinating and transforming the college’s Welcome Center and new student orientation and assessment program provide a positive first impression for students.

That’s why Kim Lopez, Dean of Counseling and Enrollment Services, nominated Jeanne as this year’s Classified Employee of the Year from Cañada. All three colleges in the San Mateo County Community College District - Cañada, College of San Mateo, and Skyline - will forward a Classified Employee of the Year nominee to the Board of Trustees. One will be chosen to be forwarded to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to represent the district in the state's Community College Classified Employee of the Year Awards Program.

“Jeanne has developed a new model for orientation, making it more streamlined and consistent and easier for students,” Lopez said. “She has established a new schedule for assessment that makes it more flexible for students and their busy schedules.”

Jeanne says she enjoys working with and assisting students as they enter or return to college but says making them feel welcome on campus is a team effort.

“Our Welcome Center staff and student assistants are amazing to work with,” she said. “They really care about our students.”

Jeanne began working with the district in 1988 as a receptionist then became staff assistant in PE/Athletics. She is still connected with athletics as a member of the Cañada College Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. “I really enjoyed working in athletics with athletic eligibility. “Watching the hard work, dedication, development, and competitive spirit of the student athletes under the leadership of our superb coaches didn’t seem like work at all. I truly enjoyed being part of a great athletics era at Cañada when we hosted numerous regional and state playoff events. That’s why we decided to initiate an Athletic Hall of Fame.

In addition to volunteering with the Hall of Fame, Jeanne volunteers at her son’s school and she’s a team mom for his little league team, organizing group events to the San Francisco Giants games.

“The best job I have, and ever will have, is being a mom to my seven-year-old son, Anthony,” she said. “I have a much greater appreciation for what my mom did in raising five children, alone. It has opened my eyes to the world and how precious children are, that they must be cared for, loved and given a solid foundation.”

Jeanne said being a mom also makes her more aware of those children who are not as fortunate so she always participates in the One Warm Coat drive and Toys for Tots program during the winter and the Junior Giants glove drive and community fund events in the spring.

Jeanne said she enjoys working at Cañada because it is smaller and provides a more personal experience for students. “We tend to know the students and sometimes their families as they embark on their educational journey,” she said. “Overall, we are fortunate to work in a district with strong leadership as we head into the future.”