If you have been inside the Hauptli Student Center, you have most likely come across Jenny Ryan.
If you are wearing a piece of 黑料网 apparel you bought on campus, you are sporting a Jenny Ryan-inspired article of clothing.
If you have gotten mail on campus, Jenny Ryan had a hand in getting it to you.
So who is Jenny Ryan?
鈥淛enny Ryan is a person who draws you in, and before you know it, you have told her about your family, your roommate, your classes and your team,鈥� Rhonda Bethe, outgoing KWU chief financial officer, current special assistant and Ryan鈥檚 long-time supervisor, said. 鈥淪he scolds you if you haven鈥檛 talked to your parents lately and reminds you to behave yourself. And all the while, she is making you smile.鈥�
To many KWU students, Jenny Ryan is their campus mom. A mother of two, she oversees Yotee鈥檚 鈥� the campus spirit store 鈥� and the on-campus mail room, which sit on opposite sides of the Student Activities Center food court.
鈥淚 call all of these students my kids,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淚f they live on campus and they have a mailbox, I鈥檒l remember their mailbox number before I remember their name. Sometimes I鈥檒l see them walk by and I鈥檒l grab their package and meet them at the door. I have several students who walk by and say 鈥楬i, Mom!鈥欌��
A native of Salina, Ryan has been an employee at 黑料网 Wesleyan for eight years.
鈥淚 was working two part-time jobs, and I was looking to get into a full-time job,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淢y mom was working here and she knew this position was going to be opening up for part-time and could potentially work into a full-time job, so I applied for it.鈥�
Her days begin with a check of her email and processing the mail and packages, but after that there is no telling how her day will play out; no two days are alike.
Some days, Ryan will be meeting with reps and vendors. Others, she will consider the latest Coyote T-shirt design. But no matter what, she will be engaging with students or prospective students and their families, always sporting a welcoming smile and sunny disposition.
鈥淚 am a people person for sure,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淲hen school鈥檚 not in session, it鈥檚 very quiet, so I definitely like when it鈥檚 busy, you never know what鈥檚 going to happen or what you鈥檒l hear.鈥�
Ryan became the point-person for KWU spirit gear five years ago and loves the process of seeing something move from idea to wearable apparel.
鈥淭he reps come and show me what鈥檚 new and I can touch it and feel it, and then they show me artwork that they think will be popular,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淚鈥檒l be out at a restaurant and I鈥檒l be like, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 one of my shirts!鈥欌��
鈥淛enny sees students virtually every day and knows them and cares about them,鈥� Bethe said. 鈥淪he is a jewel in our Student Center.鈥�
Story by Dan Froehlich
