On the third floor of Dominican Hall, amongst forty-three student computers, is Wanda House’s office. As the Siena Heights University (SHU) Technology trainer, House is responsible for training faculty, staff, and students in using different computer programs available on SHU computers.  Her office has been in Dominican Hall for the past twenty years.

House excels at her job, but looking back, she would never have guessed this where she would end up. She said frankly, “I never thought I would get up in front of a class and teach, and especially faculty and staff.  I was a very shy person and didn’t talk to many people.  One of the first times I taught, I was amazed that I was able to do it.  I was teaching faculty and staff how to use computers in the ‘80s when Bill Blackerby, associate professor of management, walked in.  He was supposed to be in the class.  When I saw him I thought, ‘I can’t do this!’, but then I realized, “I know this material, he doesn’t.  I then knew I could do it!”

House first came to SHU as a student in May of 1977 through a program provided by the Adrian Community Action Agency (CAA).  The program offered secretarial training to low income people.  House was placed at SHU to get practical experience while also earning her college credit.  Her training lasted throughout that summer.

At that time, House was a single parent of two sons, both with special needs. She desperately needed a job that would allow her the flexibility to attend to her sons’ needs when necessary.  House worked in the Human Services Division, now called Social and Behavioral Sciences, until Dec. 1977, then took a position as a full time secretary in the General Studies Division.  This division housed academic advising, career services, cooperative education, and skill development services.  It also housed the ESL Institute, which worked with international students.  In 1979, House was promoted to administrative assistant in the SHU General Studies Division, and a year later she moved up to the administrative assistant to the assistant dean.  At the same time she worked as an assistant to the director of Word Processing Operations and Veterans Coordinator.  In 1987, House earned her associates in office administration and in 1990 she was promoted to the assistant to the academic dean.

House did her student teaching in 1996 at Sand Creek High School while continuing at SHU as an adjunct instructor along with her position as Information Technology Trainer.

In Sept., House turned seventy.  “It’s hard to believe I am this old and have been here that long.  The SHU community has become my home away from home.”

After thirteen years of undergraduate classes, House earned her BA in business administration in 1990 and continued on and received her MA in teacher education in 1998.

“It has not been easy being a non-traditional student, especially with my sons both having special needs.  With getting a good education in a Christian environment and with the right people, I was able to do it,” House explained.

Among her many mentors at SHU is Dr. Robert Gordon who has been her constant supporter through the years.  Gordon is now the director of the library.  When House started her career, Gordon was her supervisor in the SHU General Studies Division.  He encouraged her to continue to pursue higher education and to learn how to use computers.  He even let her take his computer home on weekends to get more practice.

“I admire Wanda enormously.  What I admire mostly about Wanda is that she fought through a lot of adversity. I was her direct supervisor for twenty-five years.  While working, she earned her bachelors and a master degree.  She has been an extremely valuable employee and good friend.  Every year we celebrate our birthdays together.  She takes me out for my birthday and I take her out for her birthday.  We have celebrated together for the past 30 years.  Even though our views on religion and politics are radically different, when it comes down to it, our humanity overrides our culturally derived views that define us.”

Wanda’s advanced education and work with computers led her to several job promotions during her thirty-six years at SHU.   Gordon noticed that House was a good diligent worker as well as a supportive parent; she had many responsibilities, but she handled it well.  “My oldest son was born with health issues that required several surgeries.  “Bob was very understanding of my situation and allowed me to take the time I needed to be with him.  I am very grateful that I was placed in his department,” House recalled with a smile.

House was also grateful to Gordon for introducing her to her husband, Cliff House.  Cliff House and Gordon worked together at Western Michigan University in the early ‘70s.  Both of them were then employed at SHU.  One afternoon Cliff House went up to Gordon’s office to pay him a visit. Gordon introduced Wanda and Cliff at that time and the kindling of their romance started.

In the 70s and 80s, SHU mail went to the Adrian Dominican Motherhouse where Wanda would pick up the mail for her department.  House would make sure he picked up his mail at the same time.  By Feb. 1979, they started dating, and on Aug. 31, 1979, they were married.  They remained happily married for 28 years until Cliff passed away on Jan. 7, 2008, after a prolonged illness.

“The people at Siena have been so good to me through my time here,” House explained.  “I am so grateful for their understanding of my family situation and their support through the years has been very much appreciated.  Without their support, I would never have been able to complete my education.  I am eternally grateful for the friendships I have made here and the many people who supported me through my husband’s illness and especially when the Lord took him to heaven.  God’s blessings on the people I have worked with through the years.”

In addition to training instructors how to use classroom technology, House also provides training of ShoreTel phone system and the SHU Course Management System on eCollege.  In this capacity, she also writes material for the CSS Division Training website on how to use all the programs that are provided through that division. Wanda is currently an adjunct instructor, teaching Software for Educators, Assistive Technology, and PowerPoint.  She expects to be working in the computer lab at SHU for at least a couple more years until she retires.

For the past 16 years House has been working under the leadership of Robert Metz, Director of Computer Services and Systems Division.   “I have had the pleasure to work with Wanda for many years in her role as the University Technology Trainer.  Wanda has assisted faculty, staff, and students with how to effectively use a myriad of constantly evolving technology tools.  Wanda’s ability to move daily office tools such as the MS Office Suite to classroom tools like Smart Boards, VHS, DVD, Epson data projectors, iClickers to Learning Management systems like Blackboards and eCollege is quite amazing.  Wanda is quick to respond to any requests for assistance and is extremely resourceful in finding solutions to those few questions for which she does not have a ready answer.  Simply put, Wanda is our ‘go to’ person for learning about how technology can assist us in our daily lives.”