When she is not managing Washington State University’s English department, or making forensic sketches for police departments, Jerrie Sinclair is finishing final projects to complete a dream of 32 years — her bachelor’s degree — as well as obtaining WSU’s first degree in creative writing.
Sinclair began WSU classes in the summer of 1997, taking one class per semester. But her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree originally began in 1970 at Lewis-Clark Normal School — now Lewis Clark State College (LCSC) — following high school. After two and a half years, she “foolishly quit,” with 41 credits remaining to complete her degree.
The intervening 27 years were filled with marriage, children, divorce and single parenting. She started working for WSU in December 1994. Except for one more class at LCSC, she waited until her children were reared before continuing work on her degree. Taking classes earlier was not possible due to finances, time and the challenge of raising three children alone.
As a WSU employee, she enjoyed the benefit of being able to take up to six credits per semester for only $5.
“This is a wonderful way for employees to get a degree,” she exclaims.
“I took it as painlessly as possible,” she said, “taking one class at a time, instead of two.” This made it “manageable with a full-time job and not creating too much extra work at home.”
Since Sinclair works with students in her campus job, she says it was “enriching to get know the students from the other side of the counter.” She also enjoyed seeing the faculty, with whom she works, in the classroom “where they shine.”
She received a lot of support from past and present chairs of the English department, Sue McLeod and Victor Villanueva. McLeod will travel from California to attend Sinclair’s graduation.
Sinclair is the office manager for the Department of English. The staff, she said, have been “very understanding and supportive, especially right before papers are due and I’m stressing. They will be glad when I am done, too.”
To make up for time when she is in class, Sinclair has been coming in a half-hour early. She has found that she can be quite productive in that quiet undisturbed bit of time.
Sinclair says her kids have been great. “They are really proud of me. And it has been fun having Mom be a student.”
One of her sons is currently in technical school, but she is the first college graduate in her immediate family.
She has also taken a number of employee development classes, as well as community enrichment courses, such as art and home repair, and plans to take more in the future, especially art. However, Sinclair does not plan to seek a master’s degree at this time.
As WSU’s first creative writing degree recipient, Sinclair plans to write short stories and hopes to be published one day. She is currently writing a children’s story as one of her final projects, and doing the art for it as well.
When not writing or administrating, she can be found drawing forensic composites for the police department. She started in 1991, when working as a dispatcher for the Lewiston Police Department. Currently she sketches for the Pullman and WSU police departments, as well as others who request her services.
“I really like it,” she said. “It teaches you to listen; I need to draw what they see, and not what I want. It’s really encouraging when you get a good drawing and a suspect is found,” though she still surprised when that happens. “It is very rewarding.”
With graduation set for Saturday, she notes: “I’m relieved that I’m finally done, but it’s been the most wonderful experience.”
