New Anoka Tech dean of student affairs named
Jan. 2012 -While students at Anoka Technical Colleg
e were enjoying their winter break, the two year technical college welcomed Gary Schindler as the new Dean of Student Affairs. Schindler’s assignment at the technical college ends his two years of service at Spoon River College, a comprehensive community college in Illinois. Schindler, who has over 20 years of experience in public education, will provide leadership in strategic enrollment and admissions, financial aid, records and registration, and student success services.
“There is no question that our students will benefit greatly from Gary’s insight and experiences and that Anoka Technical College will thrive under his leadership,” said Dr. Catherine Gatewood, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Anoka Technical College. “His ability to see the big picture and to find a way to bring people together and to lead everyone in the same direction for the good of students will be an asset to our college community.”
Schindler spent his first few weeks on campus becoming familiar with the culture at Anoka Tech and was energized by the sense of pride and commitment to excellence in technical education found on campus. “My short time at Anoka Technical College has been very positive,” said Schindler. “I have had a chance to meet and work with many of the staff and faculty and I have toured some program areas. The commitment to students and to supplying quality graduates to the area work force is very evident and I am excited to be a part of that effort."
Over the next 12 months Schindler has set his sights on having his departments eradicate paper and becoming paperless, improving the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS), a self–directed, automated electronic tool for tracking a student’s progress toward completing an academic program, pioneering a strategic enrollment team and plan, and instituting a student life program. “Having a vibrant student life program gives students a chance to learn outside of the classroom,” said Schindler. “Student life activities such as field trips complement and enhance traditional academic learning methods.”
Schindler is not new to technical education or to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU); one half of his career history was established in a MnSCU technical education institution. For 19 years he filled a variety of roles at the present day Riverland Community College, a comprehensive college that was the result of three technical and community colleges merging. During his tenure at Riverland, he served as the dean of students/vice president of student affairs, director of enrollment services and financial aid administrator. His list of accomplishments and responsibilities include supervising the daily operations of nine departments and forty staff members, devising a goals, actions and outcome planning process for student affairs, and stimulating the research and use of best practice models to shape decision making in student affairs policy, procedure and programming.
“We are pleased to welcome Gary back to Minnesota and to Anoka Technical College,” said Dr. Jessica Stumpf, interim president at Anoka Technical College. “We are excited to apply his varied skill set to the role of Dean of Student Affairs. The entire college is looking forward to the added value Gary brings to campus.”
Schindler holds a master’s degree in counseling and a bachelor of science in education degree from the University of North Dakota. Originally from Albert Lea, Minnesota, Schindler has a wife and two adult children and enjoys fishing and traveling to presidential birthplaces and libraries.
Bank of the West, Ramsey, lightens the financial burden for students at Anoka Tech
Jan. 2012 - Joan Wood, Branch Manager and Vice President of the Bank of the West in Ramsey, ended 2011 by presenting a $2,000 check to Anoka Technical College. The donation will provide two students a $1,000 scholarship.
The donation came at a
good time of year for students at the technical college. “With the holidays ending and spring semester starting, many students are looking at their finances and trying to figure out how they are going to pay for books and tuition,” said Cheryl Kish, executive director of the college foundation. “The tuition at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system institutions is lower than the tuition at most other colleges. However, because technical programs require additional licenses, supplies and equipment, attending a technical college can be expensive.”
Currently, it costs approximately $5,000 per year to attend Anoka Technical College, which does not include the supplies and equipment needed to complete some programs. For example, learners in the machine trades program or in the automotive program can expect to pay an additional $700-$1,500 for tools.
This is the second time Bank of the West, Ramsey Branch has made a donation for student scholarships. “Anoka Tech has a critical role in revitalizing today’s skilled work force,” said Wood. “When one considers the impact the college has in providing our community with qualified skilled workers, the decision to help students get the education they need was an easy one. Supporting students and career and technical education is part of our commitment to help build communities.”
Instructor recognized for educating over 1000 students
Anoka, MN - For 30 years she has prepared thousands of students for a career that helps people live life to its fullest. She has said she would like to retire but she shows no signs of slowing down.
She is highly respected by her colleagues who say in the truest sense she is the epitome of excellence in occupational therapy. And because of her outstanding dedication to educating Occupational Therapy Assistants for three decades, the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) presented Marietta Saxon, an instructor at Anoka Technical College, the MOTA Occupational Therapist of the Year Award. Saxon was nominated by her colleagues for her outstanding contribution of educating nearly 1000 Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Saxon has been a faculty member in the Occupational Therapist Assistant Program (OTA) at Anoka Technical College since 1981. For the past 18 years, she has served as the Program Director and Fieldwork Coordinator. She often boasts of the total number of graduates who passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination as first-time new graduate test takers in 2008-2010 was 55 out of 58, which is a pass rate of 95 percent.
Within her tenure, she has developed numerous partnerships with various fieldwork sites in both traditional and non-traditional settings. She initiated an Occupational Therapy Assistant/Occupational Therapy Registered (OTR) collaboration with the University of Minnesota that focused on educating OTR students about the role and importance of OTAs. She also partnered with St. Catherine University in creating the curriculum for an OTA Refresher Course; the first and only one in the country.
Saxon has been a member of the MOTA since 1979. During the first half of those years, she actively served on many committees and boards. More recently, she cultivated and mentored new student members to the MOTA. She was instrumental in achieving the Gold Circle Award from the American Occupational Therapy Association for 100 percent student membership during the past five years and has had consistent student representation at the Assembly of Student Delegate’s annual meeting.
In addition to working full time as the OTA Program Director at Anoka Tech, Saxon has stayed current in the OTA profession by working on-call during weekends and summers. During her sabbatical leave from the technical college, she furthered her education by attending Occupational Therapy graduate level courses at St. Catherine University in St. Paul.
The nomination also recognized Saxon’s civic commitment, which is evident by her volunteer work at the CAER Food Shelf and at Union Church in Elk River, MN.
“The impact Marietta has made in the occupational therapy profession and at Anoka Technical College is incalculable,” said Dr. Jessica Stumpf, interim president at Anoka Technical College. “Her ability to create synergy in her profession, her passion for excellence and her vision of education makes her one of Anoka Tech greatest assets and deserving of this award. She has truly made a difference in the lives of students and in the world in which we live.”
