3. Colleagues who contributed to the e-Learning Program: The "Dependables"

Consider reading this narrative in the order in which it was composed, starting with Post #1.

Dependables, reliables, stalwarts, mainstays, pillars ... some of the words to use for colleagues who were never "at a distance" when help was needed by the distance learning community.  Two important "mainstays" in all my years at NSC were Jean Kent and Coryl Celene-Martel.

Jean Kent

Jean Kent had many important leadership roles in developing e-learning curriculum and in training faculty and staff to effectively and confidently utilize educational technologies.  Jean started at the college in 1976 and, as the internet sprouted, she began creating and offering workshops across the Seattle College District related to online content development and to teaching strategies that provided countless faculty with the skills needed for pedagogical use of new tech tools whether in online, hybrid or campus classes. I learned so much from Jean!  She was always there, and her energy was contagious.  Her name will come up repeatedly throughout this unofficial e-L history, even past her retirement in 2007.   

Here's a message that Jean posted about the time of her retirement:

 Coryl Celene-Martel ran North Seattle College's Teaching and Learning Center for faculty and staff from 1998 until 2020.   When I began at NSC in November 1997, the TLC was managed by wonderful educator Andreas Brockhaus, and Coryl was the TLC's web design specialist.  Andreas drew in faculty and staff through his enthusiasm, extensive technical knowledge and his skill making everyone comfortable with learning daunting new technologies and having fun along the way.  I was fortunate to be on the same support team as Jean and Andreas at the start!  And, when Andreas departed for the University of Washington the year after I arrived, Coryl took up the challenge of adding the teaching of faculty and staff to her responsibilities.  Under her leadership as well as Jean's, the TLC continued as a solid, ever-present resource for faculty and staff for decades ahead.  I don't know if Coryl tracked her hours but I hardly remember any time when she wasn't available and ready to help in planned and emergency ways.  

Coryl Celene-Martel