There are so many people on staff at Goucher who make the college what it is—people you might have interacted with all the time as a student or who you might have only known as a familiar face on campus. We spoke to some longtime employees of the college to find out more about what they do—and what keeps them coming back day after day.
Traci Martin
Executive Director for Career Education & Experiential Learning
25 Years at Goucher
What has kept you working here for all of these years?
I am forever grateful that I explored joining the Goucher community. My home is really in a liberal arts environment. This job allows me to work with students, and that has been one of the best things. I get recharged working directly with the students and developing those relationships.
When you are here long enough, you’ve seen the student come in as a first-year student and then you see them leave as a senior, and you get to witness that growth—it’s pretty powerful.
I think I’m just a person who really wants to be part of a community that’s working together, and Goucher has really provided that.
What has been the most surprising part of your job?
We are no longer waiting for students to come to our office asking for help. Now, we go directly to students and provide this information so that they can use these skills throughout their careers. This is about career equity—ensuring that every Goucher student has the skills they need to be successful in their post-Goucher pursuits.
This is not a model you see at many schools, where faculty allow us to come in their classes and teach resume or cover letter writing.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Maybe this is coming from my liberal arts background as a psych major who didn’t know what she wanted to do, but learning to try and be open to whatever opportunities come your way. You don’t know what’s going to happen and what’s going to come your way. Being open to what opportunities present themselves and not getting locked in on one is the best strategy.
I want to be the person that gives the student the space to just explore this. When students tell me they don’t know what they want to do, I see myself as someone who is able to coach them along the way to help them figure out how to take all these ideas that might be floating around in their head and figure out a path forward.
What is your favorite part of campus?
The outdoor classroom, especially since I moved over into the academic quad. I’m an outdoors person, so when I need a little break, I can take a quick walk and just get outside quickly. Some years I walked the loop road and others the trails after work and enjoyed that.
Thomas Till
Aquatics Director, Head Men’s and Women’s Swim Coach, Associate Athletic Director
27 Years at Goucher
What has kept you working here for all of these years?
It’s the people. Those connections have been the strongest part. I get to wear so many hats here that my connections go beyond the wall of the aquatic center and connect across campus. [Till also teachers in Goucher’s M.Ed. in Athletic Program Leadership and Administration Program.]
What is your favorite part of campus?
The Makerspace. One of our students walked me through how everything works there, and I ended up using the laser cutter and wood burning tool. I thought it was kind of cool, and then it just spawned into wanting to learn more about what’s in that space.
I’ve been doing a lot of 3D printing, vinyl printing, Halloween decorations—it is a really neat experience that they offer at the Makerspace, and it isn’t just for students but everyone in the Goucher community. I’ve seen students, faculty, and staff there, along with people from Edenwald.
I saw a woman making buttons there, and the fact that it was open to everyone and it is free is awesome. You don’t see those types of things on an everyday basis.
What has been the most surprising part of your job?
Spanning these decades, I love the connections I have been able to make with people.
Those moments you left a mark on a student, and you didn’t even realize it was going to be left—those connections and everything you remember come back right away, and it’s nice to have those moments when you haven’t seen an alum in a long time.
I now have swimmers whose kids I am going to start recruiting. It is wonderful having them back here and seeing them with their kids as they beam with pride about what they did here.
What has been the most surprising part of your job?
While you work here you see the campus slowly evolve, but when you see the campus through our alumni’s eyes, you can see how much has changed over the years.
I love to see that—I love to see our alums see our transformation. It’s neat to have those moments with our students.
What are your interests outside of work?
Playing darts, spending time with my family, watching football, and I am the swim coach at Stoneleigh Pool with about 370 kids each summer. I coach alongside the Loyola, Hopkins, and other college swim coaches. It is definitely a “Smalltimore” thing with the swim community.
Lisa Hill
Senior Associate Director of Admissions
30 Years at Goucher
What does a senior associate director do?
In addition to managing a recruitment territory that includes visiting high schools, representing Goucher at college fairs and other events, evaluating applications for admissions, and maintaining relationships with counselors and other partners, I also supervise seven direct reports, lead counselor meetings, and participate in various enrollment management meetings. In a nutshell, I’m involved in many aspects of enrollment management because I’ve been here so long!
What has kept you at Goucher?
First and foremost, it’s the people, whether it’s the students, faculty and staff, or my coworkers. Throughout my time here, I have met or worked with many incredible people who have influenced me in so many positive ways. Also, being around students who represent myriad backgrounds and perspectives keeps you young and excited for the future!
Finally, the campus is beautiful! After all this time, I still enjoy turning left onto the campus and seeing the majestic trees greet me every day. Even on busy days, there is always this feeling of peace that wraps around me and lets me know all will be well.
How does your experience inform what you do?
Over the years, Goucher has supported and encouraged me in pursuing my profession in college admissions. Through these experiences, I have been able to lead professional organizations, represent Goucher on panels and speaking engagements, and meet with students in 40+ states; Washington, DC; two territories; and five countries. From this, I’ve been able to impart my experiences and knowledge to others as they pursue their professional path, while also using the knowledge to better help students during their college admissions journey. It has been an amazing experience!
What do you like about working in admissions?
All of us know what it was like when we approached making our college decision. There is a lot of angst and anxiety surrounding that decision. Based on our experiences, we’re here to help students navigate their individual paths, and, hopefully, lessen some of the anxiety. Personally, I love letting students know what a fulfilling experience college can be.
What do you do in your free time?
I love spending time with my family and friends, traveling (specifically, cruising to places warm and sunny!), and playing Bingo. I’m also a HUGE Baltimore Ravens fan and even went to London a couple of years ago to see them play against the Tennessee Titans. Surprisingly, I’m also a homebody and a bit of an introvert. I find just as much joy in relaxing at home watching horror and suspense movies or scrolling through Instagram watching animal videos.
Sara Thomson
Academic Services Coordinator, Center for Writing, Arts, and Media
30 Years at Goucher
What do you do at Goucher?
I’m kind of the catch all. I’m available every day, so if somebody can’t be reached, I get the call for all kinds of things. I support professional & creative writing, communication & media studies, and the arts programs, which each come with their own needs. I prepare guest contracts and make payment requests for all my departments. The arts require publicity and programs for performances and have dedicated spaces requested by students and faculty, student clubs, and outside rentals. I schedule piano tuning for the many pianos on campus used by our music students and dancers. The Dance Department has an annual scholarship audition that I am actively involved in.
What has kept you here?
I worked in the Dance Program for many years, and I got to know the dancers. I knew all their names, their majors, where they were from. I had student employees, too. That’s really what’s kept me here—the students. Several years ago, dancers got together and nominated me for a Staff Excellence Award. That was a huge honor for me. One of my favorite things is having alums come back and visit us.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I sew, I stitch, I make cards and do other paper crafts, I tend my flower and vegetable gardens. As a 10-month employee I have my summers to spend time doing things that I don’t get to the rest of the year.
What’s something people might not know about you?
I was among the first staff members to co-teach a study abroad course. When I started in the Dance Department, some of the faculty were working on a three-week Intensive Course Abroad, History and Performance of Dance in Brazil. I had lived in Brazil and learned to speak Portuguese, although I hadn’t used it in a long time. One of the faculty leaders, Amanda Thom Woodson, thought that it would be a useful skill to have on the ICA. I went to Brazil the four times that the course ran.
When did you live there?
I was there from January of 1976 to April of 1977. I was very young, and I was working as a lab assistant and secretary for a family friend who was a biochemist at Johns Hopkins. He had a two-year grant to teach and do research at the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro. The ICA worked with the dance department at the Federal University, so it felt like home. It was exciting to be able to meet up with some old friends. That was a high point, and I thank Goucher for that opportunity.
Ray West
Shipping and Receiving Clerk
40 Years at Goucher
What do you do in your position?
I do quite a bit of things around here. Mainly, I accept deliveries and order supplies. I also take care of the uniforms. I do the shuttle for employees, taking them to the bus stop when they get off from work. There are quite a bit of things I do off and on.
How long have you been in this position?
A good 20 years.
What did you do at Goucher before that?
I worked in housekeeping. They’ve changed the name now to Environmental Services. I worked in there for maybe a good 10, 15, years.
How long have you been at Goucher?
Altogether, it will be 41 years this coming May.
That’s the longest of anyone we’ve talked to. What’s kept you at Goucher all this time?
Oh, the environment, and the employees, and everything. Friendship. It’s a good place to work, and I hope to stay until I retire.
What’s been an unexpected part of your job?
I do work in the post office occasionally. That’s been good.
Do you have a favorite part of campus?
No, I don’t have a favorite part. I just like the whole campus. [laughs]
What do you do in your free time?
I spend time at home with my grandchildren and my family, do a little of this and that, play games and stuff, watch television.
What’s a piece of advice you give to others?
Come in and do your work. Don’t let anyone distract you from doing your work. It’s your decision to do your work and stay here and accomplish what you want to accomplish. I tell everybody when they come here, “Just do your work, and use your best judgment.”
What’s something most people at Goucher don’t know about you?
Well, I’m a soft-hearted man, and I’m a religious man, and I pray; I pray for blessings. As far as anything else, I’m just an ordinary, nice gentleman, I guess. [laughs] Yep.