Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Oct. 25, 1995, edition 1 / Page 7
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October 25,1995 Campus News 7 Pam Bencke: an asset to Meredith faculty By Deanna Lemond In a yellow suit with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows, she tackles what looks like a mountain of papers, stapling because some one else had forgotten^o. Now this task may not sound like much of a challenge, but add to the papers a constant phone ring, a steady stream of teachers with a steady stream of urgent questions and problems, a stack to type and a stack to send, and an amazing number of people feeling the urge to poke their heads in and say hello. Add also me sitting in front of her asking ques tions about where she went to school and how she could do what I was watching her do and still smile while doing it. Now the pic ture seems a bit more challenging. This scenario is ail in a day’s work for Pam Bencke—guru of the English and history depart ments and a dy namo driven by some secret store of energy unavailable to most of us. You can go by her office in Joyner Hall and see for yourself how much she does for Meredith College, but what you may not know is that her life outside Meredith has been just as full. Though she was born in New Jersey, with a lather who was an oral surgeon in the Air Force, she hasn’t stayed anywhere for too long. Her travel did not stop when she moved out on her own: she went to schools in New York, Montreal and Paris, to name few. She also saw much of the world after college as a flight attendant for Pan Am and a translator and interpreter of French. Even marriage didn’t ground our heroine! With her husband Paul, she has lived in Hawaii, California, Tennessee and Maryland before moving to Raleigh. Bencke admits that she finally had to settle down a little when she became the mother of three daughters, so she gave up Pam Bencke is the Secretary on first Joyner. work and travel to spend more time with the family (and with water sports and snow ski ing—and an active craft repertoire on the side!) It was her daughters who brought Bencke to Meredith College when she discovered that raising them was one thing, but putting them through college was another, an expen sive other! So she got a job at Meredith and traveled through our of fices as well working in the president’s office, student development and admis sions, where she stayed for almost four years. Bencke took a break from Meredith for a while, but a year ago when she felt she wanted to return to the work place. She found the position of de partmental assistant open, and applied, not really thinking she would get it and not sounding nearly as excited as she now sounds answering the phone. But after an interview and an intense fear of an unproofed thank-you let ter she sent to Dr. Louise Taylor, she found herself back at Meredith and checking for commas with a magnifying glass. “I haven’t had this much aggravation since I had three teenage girls, ” said Bencke through a chuckle, in between frantic teachers’ visits. “My real job is to play audience around here, though, “which she says she learned how to do quite well from 15 years of attending her girls’ swim team meets and ballet, violin, flute, clarinet and piano recitals. “All families and businesses need some one to be an audience. My job is to keep the faculty happy.’’ Funny, she told me her job was to organize student workers, interna tional students, visiting professors, writing center needs and be a secretary to 28 faculty members. And what do the faculty members have to say about her? In Dr. Robin Colby’s words, “What can you say about Pam? ....35 things at once and she never misses a punch line!” % % MEA. Mixer Haunted Ho' Down Thursday, October 26 9 p.m. to 12 a.m, in •Weatherspoon Gym $1 admission Door prizes—must be present to win!! *Best Costume wins free ticket to White Iris Bali* Mix w/NCSU, Duke & UNC dorms and fraternities DJ Ronnie Williams Free Refreshments The Acorn (Meredith’s own literary and art magazine) is taking submis sions for this year’s edition. If you like to write poetry or short fiction, or if you have art or photography that you feel should be published, the Acorn needs you! Submissions can be placed in the box by the English and history office in foyner or in Cate Center. If you have any questions, call Deanna at 859-3819.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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Oct. 25, 1995, edition 1
7
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