The angular grey exterior of Neill Hall does little to call attention to it; the corridors within could be in almost any building on campus. It is only when you venture into an office that the radiance of the building comes to light. Surrounded by inspiring prints and trinkets of thanks from around the world, Pam Guptill, a program coordinator for WSU’s Department of Mathematics, sits in such an office.
Unassuming in nature and hesitant of accolades, Guptill quietly goes about her routine of recruiting graduate students to mathematics. Among her many jobs is keeping prospective graduate students abreast of their application processes and helping the department choose students to be appointed to assistantships. However, one of the most challenging facets of her job is a new one: taking a leadership development course offered through Human Resource Services.
Guptill is taking the course because of her own resolve to know more about the university. “I want to know more about procedures and performance management,” she said. “I have gained a lot from (the course), and I have a lot of respect for HRS. They want classified staff to have the opportunity to move up the ladder, and I have since coming to WSU.”
The course, which is free for any WSU employee, focuses on leadership and training for supervisors or those aspiring to be such. The course meets once or twice a week for two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours.
“It varies from week to week, but there are usually 50 or so of us there,” she said.
Guptill willingly shows the massive folder dedicated to the course and reads aloud the many topics taught — from mission and goals to budgeting, coaching and delegation — too many to list in full.
Guptill has been at WSU for 13 years, five of which have been at her current post.
“I started working straight out of high school in 1970,” she said. She attributes her successes in the working world to her parents, who “taught me to have high values.”
Guptill values her job and enjoys the people she is surrounded by. “I love our graduate students. They’re so focused and mature. I admire them for having a goal and attaining it,” she said. “I love it when they just come in and visit.”
