It is amazing to consider the impact one lady can have on the history of an institution.
Barbara Snipes has served Bainbridge State College for over three decades. On Monday, March 30, family, friends, present and former faculty, staff and students gathered for a public reception to honor her 33 years of dedicated service to the college.
Snipes began her career at Bainbridge Junior College in 1982, as a part-time, temporary financial aid clerk with the Admissions Office. Her temporary position led to her taking the role as the Admissions Office secretary. Just a short time afterwards, she was relocated to the Office of the President and became the Secretary to the President.
“I started out with a typewriter, and used a pen and pad to take minutes in meetings,” said Snipes as she remembered how things were when she first began her job.
She has seen the college evolve over the decades—from being a small junior community to college to a state college.
She said, “I remember when we celebrated the enrollment of student number 500 and then later student number 1,000. After that, the college began to hire more instructors and increase the class offerings in the liberal arts area and in the technical studies division. With the increase of instructors and students, everyone’s job duties increased, and computers became the mainstay in every office.”
As Executive Assistant to the President, Snipes has seen everyone who has passed through Bainbridge State College’s doors. She has served every president in the history of the institution. Snipes has also met and worked with a former U.S. President, International visitors and students, governors, legislators, chancellors, regents and University System of Georgia staff members.
Although she has worked with many prominent people, her favorite thing about her job was always her Bainbridge State family.
“Aside from the beautiful campus, my favorite thing about Bainbridge State is the great people. Faculty, staff and student all make up my college family and they are my favorite aspect of Bainbridge State College,” said Snipes.
According to Snipes, her experiences at Bainbridge State will always be a part of her. Through decades of interacting with a variety of people on the phone and greeting them in public, she always tried to listen and evaluate solutions for everyone’s requests.
She said, “I’ve always tried going the extra mile to help someone. In most cases, the behavior you exhibit to an individual is usually returned to you in the same manner. I have learned that treating people with kindness and respect are two of the most important characteristics a person should have.”
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