Thanks to and for Debra

Student Coordinator Debra Trevino at Katie Geneva Cannon Worship, March 2009

We have been discussing the fragile and unpredictable emotional climate of the seminary for the past week or so. One of our faculty members has observed that this phenomenon recurs annually. It arises as a consequence of the impending graduation and, for the most, departure of a class of students who have formed a third or more of the ever-shifting composition of the student body for the past three years or so. What that graduation and departure precisely means varies, but it comprises a complicated brew of joy in what people have accomplished, sadness at missed opportunities, grief around saying farewell to people one cares about, to say nothing of all the other emotions people can experience around leave-takings, or the practical concerns about who will take on some of the tasks that X or Y has done so willingly and so well for however long, and whether it would be positive or unethically exploitative to encourage Z₁ or Z₂ to pick up some of those . . .

The Women’s Center participates in this emotional situation. In particular, our staffing arrangements change annually, as our Student Coordinator always moves on, whether to graduation or to another Field Education position, or even to devote more time to coursework. The Student Coordinator position is temporary, by design.

This week will officially be Debra Trevino’s last as Women’s Center Student Coordinator for 2008-2009. This does not mean, we think and hope, that we need to say a permanent “goodbye”. As Deb has repeatedly affirmed, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily!” — not as if we had been trying. She has expressed her intentions of remaining involved with the work of the Women’s Center as a friend, supporter, and possibly even (we’re working on it) participant in the dramatic activities now being planned for 2010. [Reminder: meeting about VagMons this Friday, 12:30, in the Women's Center.]

This seems an opportune moment to voice a public thanks to Debra for her contributions over the past year, as worship liaison and planner, as secretary at committee meetings, as faithful staffer of space, taker of messages, schlepper of equipment, salesperson of raffle tickets, stuffer of envelopes, knitter of prayer shawls, articulator of positions, and as teacher and colleague, all under the rubric of Student Coordinator. Thank you for your work this year, best wishes for your work to come, godspeed, welcome to the new rubric of friend and supporter of the Women’s Center . . . and to that meeting on Friday!