By Rachel Hooper,
Features Co-Editor
For some students with a learning difference every school day is a challenge, but walking into the Student Academic Support Services (SASS) office, they will be met by the smiling face of a receptionist whose warm welcome can change the course of their day.
This friendly smile behind the reception desk belongs to Christine Derencz, the office manager for the SASS office. Derencz is committed to working with all students who pass through the door.
“If there’s no one here and if I can help out, you know I’m certainly going to,” said Derencz.
Before Derencz came to McDaniel in March 2007, she worked as a residential counselor for a non-profit organization serving individuals with various disabilities. She grew up near Baltimore, attending Fallston High School before graduating from Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She now resides in Montgomery County. Derencz has a boyfriend and is busy working for SASS, while at the same time taking graduate courses in counseling at McDaniel.
Despite her demanding workload, she still has time for her hobbies such as tennis and golf. “I like to do a lot of home improvement stuff; I love to travel, cooking and bike riding,” said Derencz.
Susan Dorsey, associate director of SASS, hired Derencz for her personality. “I was looking for a specific type of person, where students would come in and wouldn’t be afraid to ask questions?she would be caring and someone close to their age,” said Dorsey. “Students who take things too seriously take note of Christine’s humor and sometimes this helps when they normally wouldn’t have smiled,” explained Dorsey, “She’s office student friendly.”
Dorsey is pleased that Derencz has fit in well with the office personnel, including working with the graduate assistants who help SASS students. According to Dorsey, “People that run the offices on campus generally do not get the recognition they deserve.”
“People would love to work for our office because we’re like a family, and she is an important part of that family? and I really need to let her know how special she is and how much we love having her here,” said Dorsey, laughing.
Kevin Selby, the director of SASS, works with Derencz on a daily basis and is aware of the many tasks she performs for students. In a typical day, she may help students get their notes, order books on tape, schedule appointments and ask volunteers to read books for the students. Derencz is particularly appreciated at registration time when students come in very concerned.
“She has just done an incredible job of easing their tensions, organizing them,” said Selby.
“The fact that she does go above and beyond what her job actually calls for, and helping students is just that natural charismatic personality that she has,” said Selby. “I think that she is very unsung in that way?that makes her that hero and the glue of this office.”
Another co-worker, Carole Waddell, a learning specialist at SASS, said Derencz uses “laughter, lots of laughter; she’s organized.” Waddell added she values Derencz because of her positive attitude.
Sophomore Julia Coleman comes into the SASS office every other day to get notes. She appreciates Derencz’s work and credits her for some of her success. “I think that without [Derencz] there, students wouldn’t be able to handle both the academic pressures and all the self-advocacy part,” said Coleman. Derencz is organized with everyone’s schedules and accommodations. “I think she’s definitely an unsung hero,” said Coleman.
Junior Teresa Reardon also commended the welcoming skills of Derencz. “Sometimes I feel needy when I come in [to SASS] but she never thinks it’s a problem and she’s always enthusiastic to help,” said Reardon.
Asked if she thought she could handle balancing her academic workload and school life plus handling all the tasks Derencz performs for her, Reardon replied, “No, I definitely would not order books on tape in a timely fashion or make sure I have letters ready for my professors for accommodations?I mean she’s just really on top of everything and keeps us on top of what we need to do.”
It is not only the many tasks Derencz does for the students that make the office manager a special person. “It’s more than she is willing to help; she’s willing and she’s happy, and she’s friendly,” said Reardon.
Derencz was drawn to this campus job because after many years of working with kids with disabilities she has decided to become a counselor. She feels that her work at SASS is rewarding overall.
“[Students] come in here and they have a test they need to study for and they need a little extra study skills?a week later or so they say, by the way I got a B+ or A- on that test,” said Derencz. “I’m really excited?because then you know the whole office is really doing its job.”
When told that she does a lot for the SASS office, but may not always get a lot of recognition and could be considered an unsung hero, Derencz laughed shyly and said, “Not really?I’m just doing what the job states.”