Meet Rachel Wannamaker: A Q&A with HutchCC’s VP for Academic Affairs

By Bianca Salazar
Staff writer
IG: bancasalazar_bts

As the spring semester goes on, students are working through the schoolwork needed in order to graduate with the area of study they choose. Rachel Wannamaker, recently appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs, took the time to share more about her life and how she plans to help students in this new position.

What is your educational background?

Rachel Wannamaker: I originally majored in education. I got my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Newman University, and I got my Masters in Art of Education from Friends University.

What did you do before you started working at HutchCC?

RW: When I first started working, I originally wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, but my first position was a fourth-grade teacher, and I loved them (the students). If you had told me at that time that I would then transition years later to teaching college kids, I probably would have laughed at you.

What changed your mind to teach at a collegiate level?

RW: During my time when I was teaching at the elementary school level, I was one of the teachers they would send to get some training, bring it back and present it to the department. It started me thinking about what that could look like later. I didn’t think about the collegiate level until I had a friend who worked here. She was like, “Hey, have you ever thought about teaching at a college level?” and I was like, “No…”

And so by chance, Sterling (College) had a position open as an assistant professor and the director of teacher education. I started it, and I loved it.

Why did you choose HutchCC?

RW: I chose HutchCC because it has been a meaningful part of my life and my family’s story. I attended HutchCC, my husband is a graduate of HutchCC, and now both of my sons are following the same path as we did.

Hearing them talk about the quality of their education, the support from their instructors, before I was even hired on here, it was one of my favorite things to hear about. It reinforced how special this place was to me when I was here, and to know that it is the same for them.

What was your thinking when you first heard about this position?

RW: When I first heard about this position, my reaction was a mix of excitement and reflection because I have always been passionate about teaching, learning and supporting students.

I didn’t set out to be in this position, but over time in my educational career, I took on more leadership roles. I really enjoyed that aspect of my career, and helped shape the direction of academics. I felt that the role really met that.

What is some of the experience you have with the technical and career programs?

RW: Before I took on this position, I was a curriculum and assessment coordinator. So in doing that, I worked with both sides of the house. On the technical side, I was learning their curriculum, sitting in on their advisory board meetings and hearing about their impact across the community. On the other side, working with other colleges to make easy transfers for our students. We have faculty on both sides who look at things and come up with ways to make things better for our students, and I appreciate that.

What are your responsibilities in this new role?

RW: The Vice President of Academic Affairs helps to oversee the academic mission of the college. This includes working with faculty and staff to make sure that they have high-quality instruction, strong academic programs, and continuous improvement. It is very important that we get feedback to see how we are doing and ways we can improve those things. The role also helps oversee curriculum developments, accreditation and assessment, and making sure that our academic offerings are aligning with student needs, whether those are transfer pathways, or with our workforce demand. At its core, this job is really supporting teaching and learning, which affects students.

What is your vision for HutchCC academics?

RW: As we look forward into the future, I am hoping to build on the strengths that are already here. And so, continuing to be innovative, I want us to continue to offer rigorous programs. I want us to be relevant. We have to change with the times and continue to teach with excellence, and stay responsive to the community’s needs. I believe it is important to have shared governance and to listen to students in the decision making process to help keep us relevant moving forward.

I just want to say that I am grateful for the warm welcome that I have received in this position. I am really excited to just learn about HutchCC and the way they do things. I see this role as a partnership with students, faculty and the community because it is going to take all of us to move forward.

Is there anything you would like to say to the students?

RW: Sometimes students feel like when they are at college, they have to have all the answers. There is some stress that comes with that, but I think they have the ability to be resilient and flexible as they grow, whatever path they are going to be, and I want to let them know that student success is my number one mission over everything.

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