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February 21, 2006
Holding down the fort on campus
If someone were to come into the second floor office of University Relations in Old Main, they would most likely be greeted by a cheerful woman with a smile on her face and a contagious enthusiasm for life. Whether her vivacious personality causes the easy going atmosphere of the office or whether the easy going atmosphere causes her vivacious personality is unknown, but either way the office is a bright, cheery place thanks to this woman behind the desk. The lovely woman greeting passersby would be Linda Nybakken.
Nybakken is the Senior Administrative Assistant to Dan Loritz, Vice President of University Relations. “There is never a dull moment” in this office, she said, and the incredible view overlooking campus doesn’t hurt either. Those reasons could help explain why she has worked at Hamline for almost 15 years and doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.
In 1991, she began her Hamline career in the scheduling office and worked there for seven years. She then moved into an opening for secretary to 13 law school faculty. Two and a half years later, she moved over to University Relations and plans on staying in her position of assistant to Loritz until she retires. Church Relations’ Linda Gesling, Associate Vice President of University Relations and Development Jane Telleen, and Director of McVay Youth-VOICE, Jane Krentz, also count on her skills and support.
For those of us not familiar with this part of Hamline, University Relations is a group of many departments, including church and alumni relations, publicity, and coordinating grants. Since 2001, Nybakken has spent at least eight hours a day in Old Main making sure our campus events go smoothly.
Not only does she answer phones in the office, she handles the calendar of events for campus and makes sure that there is food, shelter, and people wherever they need to be. She helps organize events like the President’s Dinner and Honors Day, as well as other smaller events and meetings. Nybakken also helps with some paperwork for the budget planning, handling check requests and the like. Her favorite part of the job is the interaction with the wide variety of people that use the University Relations resources.
Nybakken grew up not too far from campus in South St. Paul and recently moved out of the city to Lindstrom, where she enjoys spending time with family, cross stitching, crocheting, reading, and gardening. Her family includes a husband, two grown sons and daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, and a fourth on the way.
Both of her sons ended up coming to Hamline for their own college experience after she had worked here for a few years. Her education background includes business classes at Inver Hills Community College, although she has never received a formal college degree.
It is not very often that undergraduate students have a reason to go into the University Relations office, but if you ever get a chance to stop by and visit Linda Nybakken, you will have a hard time leaving without a smile on your face as well.
Posted by dwright at February 21, 2006 11:54 AM
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