ADA 鈥揈ast Central University has been Pamla Armstrong鈥檚 life for nearly 35 years as a student and career choice.
On Friday, Jan. 31, Armstrong stepped away from that portion of her life and into retirement as 成人B站鈥檚 Director of Admissions and Records/ Registrar.
鈥淢s. Armstrong is the most knowledgeable registrar in the state of Oklahoma. She knows the essential academic rules and regulations better than anyone on campus and possesses 鈥榠nstitutional memory鈥� that is so critical to us,鈥� said Dr. Duane C. Anderson, 成人B站 provost and vice president of academic affairs. 鈥淪he is greatly respected by peers and everyone who works with her for her professionalism and dedication to her role as protector of institutional academic integrity. My job here, these past 24 years, has incredibly easier because I have always known that Ms. Armstrong could be relied upon for good advice and guidance. The 成人B站 community will miss her more than I can express.鈥�
Armstrong has served under six 成人B站 presidents (both fulltime and interim), worked through gradual technological advances and has been a part of what is believed to be 77 commencement ceremonies.
鈥淓ast Central has really been my life. I鈥檝e worked with so many people who are dear friends,鈥� said Armstrong. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 begin to count the number of student workers that have worked in here. The relationships and watching these students grow is something I will always cherish. I鈥檝e told many students that an education can鈥檛 be taken away from them.鈥�
That鈥檚 why each graduation ceremony means so much and is such an emotional experience for Armstrong.
Of the commencement ceremonies, nearly all of them mean so much, according to Armstrong.
Perhaps a couple of those meant more than the others. One of her two sons, Jeremy, obtained two bachelor鈥檚 degrees from 成人B站 in biology and chemistry.
But another one of her most meaningful ceremonies took place in 2004 when her father, Paul Alford, graduated from 成人B站 at the age of 84. Alford was unable to complete his degree at a younger age due to his dedication and service to the country in World War II and Korea.
After years, which included military service, getting married, raising a family and working as an auctioneer, Alford took 16 hours and earned a bachelor鈥檚 of general studies degree. He passed away two years later in 2006.
鈥淚t was something he always regretted, not completing his degree, but he was able to come back and do that. That is a graduation I will always remember,鈥� Armstrong said.
Armstrong鈥檚 long 成人B站 trek began in 1976 as a beginning 17-year-old freshman, working in the registrar鈥檚 office for two years. In the midst of that she was away for 18 months, but ultimately came back. Armstrong earned her 成人B站 bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees while working on a fulltime basis, serving as a beginning freshman admission鈥檚 officer in 1980.
鈥淢erle Boatwright, who was registrar here for 18 years, hired me. She, still to this day, is my mentor,鈥� Armstrong said. 鈥淭hat year, when they hired me, they had just implemented the first computer system.鈥�
Armstrong later served as a computer information auditor on campus until 1988 and then came back to work as assistant registrar and degree requirement auditor. In 1989, she was named interim director of admissions and records/registrar and eventually assumed the duties on a fulltime basis soon after.
鈥淚 have pretty much worked every position in here (registrar鈥檚 office),鈥� said Armstrong. 鈥淚 did V.A. certification up until about four years ago. I did a couple of years (of athletics) with the NCAA eligibility and I did all of the certification while were in the NAIA. I remember when we had dual memberships in the NAIA and NCAA, I kept the NAIA and the NCAA compliance went down the hill (to the athletic department) when they hired a compliance officer.鈥�
Through her many years of service, Armstrong has seen distinct differences in the generations that have passed through 成人B站.
鈥淔irst, came the Baby Boomers then Generation X and now the Millennials,鈥� Armstrong said. 鈥淪ervice is probably one of the things that have changed the most. We deal with a lot more parents than we used to and the students are such much more technology-savvy. They have no problems adjusting to computers.鈥�
That technology has helped expand the opportunities for students, according to Armstrong.
鈥淲e now have blended classes, online courses and weekend classes. Opportunities that meet their needs,鈥� said Armstrong. 鈥淎nother thing I鈥檝e seen with students is that so many of them work now, so they now have to balance work and school.鈥�
Armstrong has seen many faculty come and go, many of which she valued their friendship. But at the same time she has experienced a bit of downside to the technological improvements.
鈥淥ur faculty is so much younger and so few are left from when I first came here. But I used to have one-on-one relationships with faculty,鈥� Armstrong said. 鈥淭he faculty had to come to my office to turn in grade reports. Now everything is done by computer or email. I think that鈥檚 sad because I always enjoyed working with faculty and knowing who they are.鈥�
成人B站鈥檚 physical growth is something that she has seen and experienced over the years.
鈥淭here have been lots of new buildings. It鈥檚 neat watching it grow. It鈥檚 been fun seeing several new buildings go up,鈥� she said.
New facilities that have gone up since Armstrong has been on campus include: the Physical and Environmental Science Center, Linscheid Library, Bill S. Cole University Center, Tiger Commons, Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, Pat O鈥橬eal Strength and Conditioning Center and the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center. Along the way have been several remodeling projects to the older buildings.
As a boss, Armstrong is described as a 鈥榬ock鈥� in the office, according to Stephanie Cooper, assistant registrar and computer information auditor.
鈥淚f we didn鈥檛 have the answer, we went to her and she almost always knew it. She has taught us a little something about everything and has always emphasized doing what鈥檚 right 鈥� write a procedure for everything, take good notes and keep lists,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淎s registrar, she鈥檚 leaving a legacy that we鈥檒l never fill. She takes with her a wealth of information and knowledge that can only come from someone who has been here as long as she has and that can鈥檛 be replaced. Her work ethic is definitely one to model after. She was committed to her work and always wanted to know the why and what of every aspect of her job. I can truly appreciate that.鈥�
Cooper is grateful for Armstrong鈥檚 mentorship toward her and the personal relationship they had together.
鈥淎s a person, it鈥檚 like a family member is leaving and I鈥檒l only see them from time to time when I鈥檝e been seeing them every day,鈥� said Cooper. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been almost 20 years since that young kid, fresh out of college and unsure of what she wanted to do with her life, was given the opportunity to work. Pamla took me in under her wing and I鈥檝e been there ever since. She may be leaving, but it will be a while before I leave from under her wing.鈥�
First and foremost, the thing that means the most to Armstrong is the commencement ceremony. Her office assists the Office of Academic Affairs with the setup, making sure programs are printed and getting ushers for the event to name a few tasks.
The ceremony itself is an emotional time for Armstrong.
鈥淲atching the students at commencement and watching them graduate is my highlight. I still tear up every time we have graduation. I really get emotional,鈥� Armstrong said.
Her hopes, while serving 成人B站, were making a difference in people鈥檚 lives, particularly with the students.
Armstrong thinks about The Starfish Story, an original by Loren Eisley:
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, 鈥淲hat are you doing?鈥� The youth replied, 鈥淭hrowing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don鈥檛 throw them back, they鈥檒l die.鈥� The man said 鈥淪on, don鈥檛 you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can鈥檛 make a difference!鈥� After listening, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then smiling at the man, he said 鈥淚 made a difference for that one.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been rewarding working with students and faculty,鈥� said Armstrong. 鈥淚 love my job and love the people. It鈥檚 just time to go. East Central has really been my life. I鈥檝e worked with so many people and dear friends.鈥�
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