By Minal Abhange
Although workplaces, as well as mindsets of people, have changed a lot since the days when building a lifetime career commitment at one organization was the norm, Marjorie Ivany says, “When you love what you do, the passing of years is counting the positive experiences.”
The Admissions Officer has made a positive difference in the lives of countless students, staff members, and faculty for more than 40 years at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) – 44 to be exact.
“I simply love what I do. I truly enjoy interacting with students, staff and faculty members and facilitating admissions and administrative support as needed,” she says.
Marjorie started her college career as a student, graduating from the Clarenville District Vocational School (now known as CNA) in the Shorthand Typing program.
“I graduated in July 1972, applied for the job soon after, and started working on Dec. 18, 1972. Since then I have worked in several administrative positions.”
The first job title Marjorie held was the Clerk Stenographer I followed by Clerk Stenographer II, and Clerk Stenographer III where she provided admissions support, administrative and secretarial support to the campus administration office, store departments and local IT department and campus faculty.
Next, she worked as the Word Processing Officer. This job entailed a list of duties, such as providing administrative support, word processing, data entry, responding to inquiries, and providing front‐line support to students, faculty and the public. She then continued her career in a Clerk IV position
Marjorie’s demeanour is that of a relatively quiet person – a woman of few words who is modest when talking about herself. However, there is no denying she possesses and shares enormous knowledge and expertise from the several job titles she has held in the past. She brings that vast experience to her current position as Administrative Officer at Clareville’s CNA campus.
“Primarily in my current role I develop, maintain and monitor student records; respond to inquiries from prospective and current students; provide support for student registration, awards ceremony, graduation and other event support.
Most of the positions I have held in the past have been similar in many ways inclined towards students, staff members, and faculty.” Given that she has been with the college for a little more than four decades, change is something she has adapted throughout her career.“I have seen a lot of changes in terms of people, technology and the college itself.
I have worked with some amazing people, a lot of them now have moved across different provinces, some retired. I have transitioned from working on a typewriter to a computer to everything digital and paperless using the internet. CNA has been restructured a few times in the past 50 years, since its existence as district vocational schools to one of the largest post-secondary educational and skills training centres in Atlantic Canada.”
Marjorie was one of many CNA employees earmarked to receive a Service Recognition award – an event the college has developed as a uniform and consistent means to recognize, celebrate and express appreciation for the long-term dedication, commitment and loyalty of its employees. She is currently the longest-serving employee with the college system, and in addition to her certificate and gift, co-workers at the Clarenville campus showed how much they appreciated her years of service with a special cake.
While Marjorie appreciates the gesture, she humbly downplays receiving the recognition, “I do not need any recognition, I love my job and the college is a great place to work.”What’s next for Marjorie? She says, “I am looking forward to retiring soon, spending some time travelling.”
