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Collier retires from MAC

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

She's been the "right arm" to three Arts & Sciences deans at Mineral Area College and has overseen more than a dozen commencements at the community college. Now Nancy Collier is off the job. She retired as executive administrative assistant, effective July 1.

Collier started working for the college part-time in 1994, moving to full-time employment on July 1, 1995.

Collier said she's enjoyed the people and the work at MAC.

"Once you start work here it is very hard to leave," she said. "My job has been very interesting, challenging and most rewarding.  Working with the faculty, administration and students is an experience I will always treasure. While there have been some days that have stressed me to the limits, I never found myself not wanting to come to work on any given occasion."

Collier said she feels like she's had a lot of "high points" in her career at MAC. "To mention a couple would be the opportunity to work with three wonderful deans, each different and each one was wonderful," she said, referring to Dr. Jim Bullis (who is now a MAC trustee), Dr. Steven J. Kurtz (who is now MAC's president), and present Arts & Sciences Dean Kay Crecelius (who formerly taught English full-time).

The year MAC hosted an annual, statewide MCCA Classified Staff Conference was another point of pride for Collier, who chaired the event. "That experience simply reaffirmed my pride for being able to say I work at Mineral Area College," she said. "We were the envy of all 12 community colleges in the state and even put together the handbook for 'How to Host MCCA Classified Staff Conference.' It was wonderful. We rocked!"

Collier said she would miss MAC in retirement. "I'll miss everything," she said. "The 'family,' the beauty that put a smile on my face every morning as I drove into the entrance and looked around the grounds, and the fact that no matter what the circumstances, there was always someone — several people — I could call for assistance and know that I would have it immediately without question and with a smile."

Still, she said, she was looking forward to spending her days a little differently, perhaps incorporating her love of the ocean, and reading, water skiing and golfing.

Collier and her husband, Cliff, live in Farmington. "I was born and raised in central Missouri and have moved seven times during my 30 plus years of marriage," she said. "Each time I was fortunate to make good friends and enjoy where I lived, however, none have touched me or become 'home' like Farmington has."

 Cliff retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol some years ago, Collier said, and the two plan to move around the U.S. for seasonal work with the National Park Service.

 She also plans to spend time with her three children, Chris, Clint and Jenny, and her eight grandchildren.