Roxanne Fleischer
News Editor
Twenty-three years at McDaniel must mean that Bobby Anderson enjoys her job.
She spent 10 years in the Registrar’s office before becoming the secretary of the English department in 1996. “As far as I’m concerned,” she said, the English department is “the best on campus. I wouldn’t want to work for any other department.”
Anderson, originally from Superior, Wisconsin, likes to stay busy outside of work with her three children and five grandchildren, including one at Fort Brag who she will visit over Spring Break. She will be married to her husband, Earl, for 43 years this summer. Anderson also enjoys going to her beach place in Long Neck, Delaware, walking, and reading mysteries and love stories.
And although she has plenty to keep her busy at work, her days are never set in stone. “That’s what’s interesting. Things that are scheduled I sometimes don’t get to,” she said.
Her job consists of working on the budget, setting up department lunch meetings, getting the speakers and menu in order for the English department lectures, making copies for the professors, and looking up information for reports.
“Most of her work is not seen by the general public or most of the college,” said Dr. Mary Bendel-Simso, an English professor who has known Anderson for over 13 years. “But if she didn’t do it, it would be very obvious.”
Bendel-Simso has previously been in charge of the First Year Seminar program: “When you are in charge of [a program],” she said, “your secretary is in charge of it too.”
But Anderson doesn’t complain. She doesn’t have a least favorite part of her job, only a least favorite part of the year. While most people think the start of the fall semester is the worst time, Anderson said she would take it over the end of the school year because of “all the crazies that happen from Spring Break on until commencement. There is so much going on.”
In the busiest times, however, professors like LeRoy Panek know how much she does. “She runs the department. We are the luckiest people on campus,” he insists.
In 2003, Anderson won the Phenomenal Woman Award which is given yearly to McDaniel women for their achievement, strength, and service. She is modest about it, however, saying simply that it was a surprise that she appreciated.
“She’s our colleague, she’s our friend. It becomes like a family up here. She’s just like the rest of us, only smarter and more efficient,” said Panek, who has known Anderson longer than she has worked in the English department. Before McDaniel, she was a teacher’s assistant at a local Christian preschool for five years and taught Dr. Panek’s daughter.
Students have been a common theme for Anderson during her careers. “I love the students,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going?I’ve made some good friends here, also.”
Brittany Cooper, a junior, has been working as a work-study student under Anderson for two years. To her, Anderson is more than just a boss. “She’s a wonderful woman who has done so many little things for me.”
Anderson, who has given and lent many books to Cooper, has also become a good person for her to talk to about everything from family problems to childhood memories. Anderson even bought Cooper a gift certificate to Olive Garden because she remembered that her brother works there.
“She’s accommodating, compassionate, and understanding to people that come in here,” said Cooper.
Bendel-Simso recalls the times Anderson went out of her way to be nice to her children, remember them and ask about them. Anderson is always more than willing to give rides to anyone who needs one and has let Bendel-Simso borrow her minivan as well.
“We don’t want her to ever retire,” Bendel-Simso said. “That is our biggest fear.”