It started 25 years ago with a part-time, temporary job at the Children’s Center. Now, Patricia Worley oversees not only that service, but also Peak Adventures, the Aquatic Center, the student-run radio station, and several other programs and projects as the executive director for Associated Students, Inc.
There are about 35 core, non-student employees involved in those operations. But Worley notes that students comprise the major share of workers.
Worley also works with the ASI board of directors, a panel that includes the 14 elected student body officers and five non-voting members. Worley and the other non-student board members provide support and guidance to the student officers as they pursue their responsibilities.
After getting a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University, Worley came to Sacramento State for her teaching credential followed by a master’s degree in child development at UC Davis.
Worley credits her husband, Michael, for her return to Sacramento State. She was working in another child-care program and coming home in tears every night because the operation did not match her expectations for quality child care and early development. Her husband said she should just quit and was the one who found the job announcement for the Sacramento State position.
After that, one opportunity led to another until she attained her present post. “It’s a good match for me, personally,” Worley says.
The job can be difficult at times, but Worley doesn’t view that as a problem. “Some of the very same things I find to be the most interesting and enjoyable aspects of my job are also the most challenging,” she says. And the nature of the education system means there’s always a new challenge waiting around the corner. “I absolutely enjoy the fact that no two days are ever exactly alike,” Worley says.
The changes in campus facilities during her 25 years here get high marks from Worley. She observes that the Children’s Center was in a temporary trailer when she first started, and the Aquatic Center operated out of a cargo container. First-class facilities enhance the quality of education and services to the students, Worley says.
Worley also enjoys the people with whom she works. The group is a nice balance of full-time employees and students. The students may change from year to year, but that can be exciting, Worley says. “I find it very rewarding and enjoyable to find a meaningful role in participating in their learning and their growth,” she says.
About the writer: Sacramento State’s Craig Koscho can be reached at ckoscho@csus.edu
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