Amy Jenkins, Coordinator for the Center for New Directions at the Work-Based Learning Center, has been named Staff of the Month for May 2024. Since joining College of Western Idaho (CWI) in September 2023, Jenkins has made a significant impact on both students and colleagues through her dedication, positive attitude, and willingness to take on new challenges.
Jenkins was nominated by Glenn Karn, who praised her as an Administrative Assistant for Workforce Development. Karn highlighted Jenkins' ability to learn quickly and handle frequent inquiries with ease. "Amy easily tackled the challenge of learning our most frequent questions and being able to navigate basic inquiries with ease. She has now proven her ability to go above and beyond by taking on new challenges and engaging in process improvements," Karn noted. She emphasized her reliability and enthusiasm, stating, "Amy is the first to volunteer and step in when other team members are out. She is reliable and consistently willing to give her best effort."
One of Jenkins' most notable achievements has been her work with the Work-Based Learning Center. Karn mentioned, "Most recently, Amy took on the challenge of learning how to navigate inquiries for our Work-Based Learning Center and continues to help their team navigate the increasing communication needs. In addition to handling daily communication, she has also proved capable of assisting in flyer creation, conducting student survey phone calls, and looking for process and document improvements within our departments to help increase our quality of service."
Jenkins' positive attitude and dependability have made her a valuable member of the Workforce Development and Work-Based Learning Center teams. "Amy has consistently shown she is willing to take on new opportunities and does so with a level of enthusiasm that makes it impossible not to root for her. She has proved through her engagement, positive attitude, and dependability that she is a valuable member of the team. We are grateful for her contribution," Karn concluded.
Jenkins’ journey to CWI was driven by her passion for higher education and her desire to continue her career path in this field. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Management with a specialization in Marketing & Publicity from Central Washington University (CWU). Before joining CWI, Jenkins’ worked as a Secretary Senior for the World Languages & Cultures department at CWU for five years. Her background in higher education and her experience in administrative roles have equipped her with the skills and knowledge to excel in her current position.
Reflecting on her time at CWI, Jenkins expressed her appreciation for the supportive and collaborative environment. "I enjoy working at CWI because of the challenge of my role and the opportunities I get every day to help people. I have coworkers in and out of my department that appreciate the effort I put in to give them my best work so they can be successful in their jobs helping students," Jenkins shared.
Jenkins also values the personal growth she has experienced at CWI. "I have met some amazing people and have grown to love the Treasure Valley," she said. Originally from the greater Seattle area, Jenkins moved to Central Washington for school, where she met her husband. They moved to the Treasure Valley to continue her husband's education while raising their two-year-old daughter.
Outside of work, Jenkins enjoys playing and biking with her daughter, golfing, playing video games with friends, and gardening. "When I had a garden, I highly enjoyed planting flowers and growing fruits and vegetables," she mentioned.
Jenkins’ dedication to her work and her positive impact on her colleagues and the students she supports make her a deserving recipient of the Staff of the Month award for May 2024. Congratulations to Amy Jenkins for her outstanding contributions to CWI.
