By Tiffany Estes
Copy Editor
At 3:15 pm on Sept. 8 in the Charles S. Graybill, M.D. courtyard, a bench dedication ceremony was held to commemorate Susan Hill for her time served at Cameron University. Susan Hill has served as Administrative Assistant I, and is retiring after 37 years, 9 months, and 2 days of service to the university.
I had the opportunity to interview her on her last day of service, Sept. 9, 2022.
Hill’s career with Cameron University began on January 7, 1985. During her time with the university, she has worn many hats, including serving as secretary for the Department of Communication, and Administrative Assistant I to the Communication, English and Foreign Languages department.
Since August of 1987, Hill’s office has been located in Nance-Boyer Hall, room #2014, where she completed her career for the department. It was there that she has served both students and staff of the university with an impressive demand.
Hill has served as the “director of first impressions” for the main office. She has greeted and screened visitors and phone calls, relayed messages and taken necessary action with any issue that surfaced in Nance-Boyer.
Some of Hill’s duties have included, but have certainly not been limited to: creating purchase orders, maintaining inventory of department supplies, keeping up with keys, making sure that classrooms are satisfactory, keeping everything “aesthetically pleasing” for both students and staff. She has updated contracts for vendors, designed fliers and advertisements for visiting writers and other professionals.
In addition, Hill has successfully kept up her commitment to the facility, doing much of her work during the summer months when the campus is less busy. She has made sure the department has everything necessary for when classes resumed in the fall and spring semesters.
Hill is quite computer savvy as well. She described herself as a “computer geek”. When Cameron would receive new technology, she would take time to learn any new software for the university so that she could aid the particular program or faculty with how to operate the software, as necessary. Hill has met and exceeded department standards by maintaining social media and public relations on Facebook and other platforms.
She has performed a great deal of work for the student body for both undergraduate and graduate students. Hill said that she has always made herself available to help both students and staff with any needs that may arise, including technical needs.
She beamed with pride as stated with confidence how she has always made herself available to help both students and faculty with anything from minor technical issues to a master’s thesis.
“My door is always open,” said Hill, with pride.
I asked Hill about her time working with the Collegian newspaper. She began working with student media in 1987 and describes her experience as “part of her heart”. Hill stated that because of her previous background working with newspaper, yearbook, advertising and publication was helpful, allowing her to make valuable contributions to both the student media staff and the Collegian publication.
Hill described how she has witnessed evolution of technology within the university and how she was able to contribute to this growth.
“The equipment for student media was state-of-the art for that time,” said Hill. “I would make sure computers and other equipment was up and running for staff and handled other needs that may have risen to maintain student media, staff, and student body.”
Hill reflected back on how she has witnessed Cameron University evolve over the years, since she first began her career with the university in 1985.
“It has certainly gotten better.” Hill said. “The university has improved in areas of being a student centered environment and become more exciting. The university has always strived to meet the students’ needs as well as the need of the phenomenal staff.”
I asked Hill about what type of legacy she hopes to leave behind at Cameron University from her 37 years of service.
“Legacies are hard to define. A legacy can seem sort of pompous, at least from my perspective. If a student has a dream, they can have it, but they have to work for it,” said Hill.
She said that she hopes the legacy of her time at Cameron will continue with the work of the faculty.
“I hope they will always strive to do what it takes to help keep the dreams of their students alive,” said Hill.
Hill offered advice to both current and future students of Cameron.
“They must take the time to meet with their advisors and do the work necessary to make their dreams into a reality,” said Hill.
“My roots run deep here at Cameron University and in southwest Oklahoma,” said Hill. “My dad graduated from Cameron University in 1950, after completing his service with the Navy. At that time, Cameron was a two-year university. When I first came to Cameron, my son was only six-years old. Being here has made a lasting impact on my family. Coming to Cameron was the best move I have ever made.”
Hill states that there are multiple purposes in her focus toward delivering excellence to Cameron University.
“Every day is different and that is where my heart is,” said Hill.
Hill describes herself as the person behind the scenes helping to pull things together.
“I am a person who likes to fly below the radar,” said Hill. “If everything comes off without a hitch that is where my heart is.”
Hill reflected thoughtfully back on her time with the department of Communication, English and Foreign Languages.
“I have had the best group of faculty to work with across the campus. Some of the best in the world. said Hill. “When the departments of English and Foreign Language first merged, I did my best to get to know the staff. I let them know that no question was too big or small and that I was always here to help.”
I asked her what some of her fondest memories might be from her time at the university. Hill paused and expressed her thoughts.
“I cannot share just one,” said Hill. “The atmosphere on this floor, the people I work with,” said Hill. “There are so many wonderful memories with these department chairs and administration. There has always been such great support within these offices. Many relationships formed here are priceless. Rather than just one memory, it is more of a collection of memories.”
Hill thoughtfully considered her time with Cameron University a having had the privilege to work with various department chairs such as, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Kingsley, Dr. Hodgson, Dr. Keller and Dr. Underwood, to name a few.
She recalled how she witnessed Professors Bublitz, Chaffins and Dr. Keller all doing their undergraduate work at Cameron.
“They all went on to do their graduate studies elsewhere, and later returned to work with students at Cameron,” said Hill. “Seeing and partaking in the success of those I now work with makes me proud because I got to see that and be a part of it.”
Hill revealed how many of the university’s former students have reached out to her to update her on how they are doing now and how their lives have improved since studying at Cameron.
“I have had the pleasure of seeing growth in students who have crossed my path during my time here,” said Hill. “It makes me proud to have worked with students who have had to overcome obstacles due to hardships such as homelessness and poverty, and I did my best to try to point them in the right direction.”
I had the opportunity to speak with both Professor Bublitz and Dr. Keller about Hill’s retirement.
Professor Bublitz said that Hill was like a “second mom” and an extended version of his own family.
Dr. Keller provided more insight about Hill as he echoed much of this sentiment shared by Bublitz from his experiences getting to know Hill as an undergraduate student at Cameron in the late nineties.
“I had an old Toyota Corolla. I remember digging for change to buy McDonalds because I was hungry,” said Keller. “As a reporter, they paid us fifty bucks a month to write for the Cameron Collegian. I wrote a humor column and became friends with Susan during that time. I was joking about how what I wanted was 97 cents and I needed three more pennies to be able to get something to eat at McDonalds. Susan said, ‘I’ve got food and stuff in the fridge. You can help yourself to anything I have here,’” Hill said to Keller. “It was front that point forward, if I was hungry, Susan fed me,” said Keller.
As a reporter, I got the impression that Hill “fed” the student body both figuratively and literally for over three decades.
“She took care of us at the Collegian,” said Keller. “She took great pains to make sure that our scholarships were processed. She was a financial manager for the Collegian and she took care of everything that we did.”
Keller reflected how he maintained a friendship with Hill as he left Cameron University to pursue graduate studies.
“I was 24 years old and had been accepted to graduate school,” said Keller. “Susan was the administrative assistant still. She still fed me. She still took care of me. From the moment I was a student, then a young college professor, then I changed departments and was in a completely different area, but I would stop in and see Susan once a week.”
I asked Hill what she plans to do with her free-time during retirement.
“I just want to breathe. I am tired,” said Hill.
Her self-imposed “time-out” may be short-lived as, she also expressed a desire to travel to all 50 states.
“I have 14 more to go,” said Hill. “There are many things I want to get done such as, working on my home with repairs. I would like to spend some more time with my grandkid in Texas and visit family who live in other parts of the country.”
Hill stated that she is open to consider returning to work part-time with Cameron University, once again, based on the needs of the university.
According to Dr. Keller, Hill may be retired, but she still is active with the university and lending a helping hand where it is needed.
“She was and is very much a professional,” said Keller. “She mothers students and takes care of them. Up until the day she retired she took care of the Collegian budget, the advertising account, she always takes care of student workers for us.”
Dr. Keller left these parting words about Hill and her legacy at Cameron University.
“Her DNA is inextricably tied to the DNA of our campus media and to the people of our communication and especially English and Foreign Language Department. That is her passion,” said Keller. “She has been a mother figure, a strong powerful, independent and wonderful woman who took great care of people. She has been retired for two weeks, and I talked to her today. She has sent me spreadsheets that she is working on at home right now taking care of a grant for the university.”