Earlene Bond
For almost 25 years, Earlene Bond and Richland College have been making a difference in each other’s lives.
The journey began in 1985 when Earlene started a part-time job in Continuing Education. She later held a full-time job in the Business Division for many years. While working in the Information Center of the real estate program, Earlene began taking classes toward her associate’s degree in real estate, which she finished in 1992. She earned the distinction of Certified Professional Secretary in 1993 and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Northwood University in 1995.
She went on to work in the Career Center, Organizational Learning and Service, and helped to start the Thunderwater Organizational Learning Institute. In 2001 she moved to the District Office as a founding member of the Center for Formation in the Community College, where she remained active in community and support staff activities.
Earlene retired from the DCCCD on April 1, 2004. Four years later she came out of retirement to work part time for the Center for Formation in Higher Education and moved with the Center (now the Center for Renewal and Wholeness in Higher Education) to Richland in August 2008.
Although she is a part-time employee, today Earlene remains active supporting many professional support staff and activities on campus.
Earlene is a member of the Rho Epsilon Real Estate Fraternity, Richland chapter; she was the Richland PSS Employee of the Year for 1997-98; and was named Innovator of the Year for the Richland ThunderSTAR Program in 2001-02.
Earlene’s dedication and participation in so many cornerstone programs at Richland continues to inspire those who know her.
“She earned her associate’s degree at the age of 50 and went on to earn her baccalaureate degree with high distinction,” says her nominator, Sue Jones. “Both degrees and her CPS credential were earned while working full-time, raising three daughters and making significant contributions to the community.”