![\"Traci](\"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/magazine\/files\/2026\/01\/People-of-Goucher-Traci-Martin-2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere are so many people on staff at Goucher who make the college what it is\u2014people 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\u2014and what keeps them coming back day after day.<\/p>\n
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Executive Director for Career Education & Experiential Learning<\/p>\n
25 Years at Goucher<\/p>\n
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What has kept you working here for all of these years?<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
When you are here long enough, you\u2019ve 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\u2014it\u2019s pretty powerful.<\/p>\n
I think I\u2019m just a person who really wants to be part of a community that\u2019s working together, and Goucher has really provided that.<\/p>\n
What has been the most surprising part of your job?<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2014ensuring that every Goucher student has the skills they need to be successful in their post-Goucher pursuits.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?<\/b><\/p>\n
Maybe this is coming from my liberal arts background as a psych major who didn\u2019t know what she wanted to do, but learning to try and be open to whatever opportunities come your way. You don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen and what\u2019s going to come your way. Being open to what opportunities present themselves and not getting locked in on one is the best strategy.<\/p>\n
I want to be the person that gives the student the space to just explore this. When students tell me they don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
What is your favorite part of campus?<\/b><\/p>\n
The outdoor classroom, especially since I moved over into the academic quad. I\u2019m an outdoors person, so when I need a little break, I can take a quick walk and just get outside quickly. Some years after work I walked the loop road, and others the trails, and enjoyed that.<\/p>\n
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Aquatics Director, Head Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Swim Coach, Associate Athletic Director<\/p>\n
27 Years at Goucher<\/p>\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/magazine\/files\/2026\/01\/People-of-Goucher-Tom-Till-5-scaled.jpg\")
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What has kept you working here for all of these years?<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s the people. Those connections have been the strongest part. I get to wear so many hats here that my connections go beyond the walls of the aquatic center and connect across campus. [Till also teaches in Goucher\u2019s M.Ed. in Athletic Program Leadership and Administration Program.<\/i>]<\/p>\n
What is your favorite part of campus?<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019s in that space.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been doing a lot of 3D printing, vinyl printing, Halloween decorations\u2014it is a really neat experience that they offer at the Makerspace, and it isn\u2019t just for students but everyone in the Goucher community. I\u2019ve seen students, faculty, and staff there, along with people from Edenwald.<\/p>\n
I saw a woman making buttons there, and the fact that it was open to everyone and it is free is awesome. You don\u2019t see those types of things on an everyday basis.<\/p>\n
What has been the most surprising part of your job?<\/b><\/p>\n
Spanning these decades, I love the connections I have been able to make with people.\u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n
While you work here you see the campus slowly evolve, but when you see the campus through our alumni\u2019s eyes, you can see how much has changed over the years.\u00a0I love to see that\u2014I love to see our alums see our transformation. It\u2019s neat to have those moments with our students.<\/p>\n
What are your interests outside of work?<\/b><\/p>\n
Playing darts, spending time with my family, and 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 \u201cSmalltimore\u201d thing with the swim community.<\/p>\n
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Senior Associate Director of Admissions<\/p>\n
30 Years at Goucher<\/p>\n
![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/magazine\/files\/2026\/01\/People-of-Goucher-Lisa-Hill-1-scaled.jpg\")
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What does a senior associate director do?<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019m involved in many aspects of enrollment management because I\u2019ve been here so long!<\/p>\n
What has kept you at Goucher?<\/b><\/p>\n
First and foremost, it\u2019s the people, whether it\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
How does your experience inform what you do?<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019ve 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!<\/p>\n
What do you like about working in admissions?<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
What do you do in your free time?<\/b><\/p>\n
I love spending time with my family and friends, traveling (specifically, cruising to places warm and sunny!), and playing Bingo. I\u2019m 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\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
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Academic Services Coordinator, Center for Writing, Arts, and Media<\/p>\n
30 Years at Goucher<\/p>\n
![\"Sara](\"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/magazine\/files\/2026\/01\/People-of-Goucher-Sara-Thomson-5-scaled.jpg\")
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What do you do at Goucher?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m kind of the catch all. I\u2019m available every day, so if somebody can\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n What has kept you here?<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s really what\u2019s kept me here\u2014the 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.<\/p>\n What do you do when you\u2019re not working?<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019t get to the rest of the year.<\/p>\n What\u2019s something people might not know about you?<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n When did you live there?<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shipping and Receiving Clerk<\/p>\n 40 Years at Goucher<\/p>\n What do you do in your position?<\/b><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n How long have you been in this position?<\/b><\/p>\n A good 20 years.<\/p>\n What did you do at Goucher before that?<\/b><\/p>\n I worked in housekeeping. They\u2019ve changed the name now to Environmental Services. I worked in there for maybe a good 10, 15, years.<\/p>\n How long have you been at Goucher?<\/b><\/p>\n Altogether, it will be 41 years this coming May.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the longest of anyone we\u2019ve talked to. What\u2019s kept you at Goucher all this time?<\/b><\/p>\n Oh, the environment, and the employees, and everything. Friendship. It\u2019s a good place to work, and I hope to stay until I retire.<\/p>\n What\u2019s been an unexpected part of your job?<\/b><\/p>\n I do work in the post office occasionally. That\u2019s been good.<\/p>\n Do you have a favorite part of campus?<\/b><\/p>\n No, I don\u2019t have a favorite part. I just like the whole campus. [laughs<\/i>]<\/p>\n What do you do in your free time?<\/b><\/p>\n I spend time at home with my grandchildren and my family, do a little of this and that, play games and stuff, watch television.<\/p>\n What\u2019s a piece of advice you give to others?<\/b><\/p>\n Come in and do your work. Don\u2019t let anyone distract you from doing your work. It\u2019s your decision to do your work and stay here and accomplish what you want to accomplish. I tell everybody when they come here, \u201cJust do your work, and use your best judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s something most people at Goucher don\u2019t know about you?<\/b><\/p>\n Well, I\u2019m a soft-hearted man, and I\u2019m a religious man, and I pray; I pray for blessings. As far as anything else, I\u2019m just an ordinary, nice gentleman, I guess. [laughs<\/i>] Yep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Get to know some of the longtime employees of Goucher who help make the college what it is. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":352,"featured_media":7427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[87510,87528,7935,87559],"tags":[87503],"ppma_author":[87484,87483],"class_list":["post-7425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-goucher-news-feature","category-goucher-today","category-winter-2026","tag-cover-story"],"yoast_head":"\nRay West<\/h2>\n
![\"Ray](\"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/magazine\/files\/2026\/01\/People-of-Goucher-Raymond-West-4-scaled.jpg\")
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