BY WENDY HARRISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
wharrison@pdc.edu

FRANKLIN—JoAnne Russell, executive administrative assistant to the president at Paul D. Camp Community College, will retire on Friday, June 22.

The Franklin woman has worked for the college for 35 years.

“I will miss the people, the fellowship and the closeness I have with many co-workers, but it’s all about family and ministry now,” Russell said.

She has worked during all of the college’s seven presidencies in five departments and on two campuses.

After earning a clerk stenographer certification from PDCCC, Russell was hired in 1976 as clerk-typist for the Title III coordinator, a grant-funded position.

She then worked as stenographer for the technology, science and mathematics divisions, and eventually as executive secretary for the dean of financial and administrative services.

“Part of my job there was to serve as backup for payroll,” Russell said. “When a position became available in payroll at the new Hobbs Suffolk Campus, I applied and got the job.”

She has been the assistant to the president since November 2002, coming on board at the same time as former President Dr. Douglas Boyce.

“Being employed at the college has been a rewarding experience and I’ve grown because of the variety of leadership styles in the different departments in which I’ve worked,” she said. “I am excited about beginning a new chapter in my life. Now I’ll have the flexibility to do some things that I’ve longed to do.”

That includes reading, spending more time with her grandchildren and traveling to California to visit her sister and cousins.

“I also look forward to volunteering more time at my church,” Russell said.

She was a founding member, an assistant pastor and the treasurer/secretary at Fellowship Around the Word Church in Franklin.

A summa cum laude graduate, Russell holds the Certified Professional Secretary designation. She also earned a certificate in data processing and associate of arts and science degrees in secretarial science and business management with a specialization in computer information systems, all from PDCCC.

“I am pleased and privileged to have worked with JoAnne during the first two years of my presidency,” said PDCCC President Dr. Paul Wm. Conco. “She has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the college and therefore, was able to provide an excellent orientation for me when I arrived. I wish her the best.”

Russell has three children and six grandchildren.

She will be honored with a luncheon at PDCCC on Thursday, June 21.