Professional assistant Donna Krompinger is the recipient of the 2023 FA Member Excellence Award for FA Service.

Donna Krompinger isn’t the person you picture when you think “union activist.” She’s not someone who will grab a megaphone and rally the membership to action. Quite the opposite, since starting at the college in 2005 as a college aide, Donna has long preferred to be behind the scenes. The nature of her work, however, in the Office of Faculty & Professional Advancement has led Donna to seek out more visible positions.

Her work on behalf of the FA specifically led to her being selected for this year’s FA Member Excellence Award for FA Service.

Q — Professional assistants (PA) are our largest constituency group, after classroom faculty. The role of PA’s is sometimes misunderstood, partly because PA’s hold such a wide range of roles at the college. Talk to us about what is your role as a PA.

A — I have always worked in the Office of Faculty & Professional Advancement (OFPA) and in Adjunct Services. I started as a college aide in 2005 after my youngest was in kindergarten. I became an adjunct PA in 2011, then was fortunate to be hired in my current role as a full-time PA in 2014. Prior to working at the college, I was a branch manager at a financial institution but left to raise my children.

In my role, I assist with a variety of duties in OFPA, but the biggest tasks are assisting with adjunct promotions and adjunct conference attendance as well as planning and running Professional Development Day each spring and fall. The sheer number of adjuncts at the college means I am fielding a lot of inquiries each day. Having started as an adjunct myself, I know what it’s like, so I work hard to give each person individualized attention. Assisting adjuncts with so many questions naturally led me to get to know the FA contract and policies better, which led me to getting to know the FA better.

Q — You were nominated for this award based on several ways you contribute to the FA, including your service as a mentor for our new member program. How has that been going?

A — I was first asked to serve as a mentor by New Member Program Coordinator Matt Pappas. To date, I have mentored six colleagues. And I continue to reach out to them, even though they aren’t still officially assigned to me. It’s not just “year one and done” for me. I make sure things are still going okay, I let them know I’m still here if they have questions. To me, being a good mentor means continuing to build those relationships, ideally moving from mentorship to friendship with my colleagues. 

This is especially important for nonclassroom PA’s because sometimes they can feel a bit intimidated about getting involved with certain committees or positions. For example, in the past when I have volunteered, it would be for nonacademic roles, such as the contract negotiations team for the FA or for Commencement.

Then I was asked to serve on the Ammerman Senate due to a need for more nonclassroom representatives. I was elected as a member at large—and just re-elected, actually—then started joining committees like ways & means and quality of life. At first, I feared people would wonder, “Who is she? Why is she here?” but I think people realized that I have something to offer.

As nonteaching faculty, I worried that it wasn’t my business to interject into academic conversations, but all of us in the FA have a role to play in helping students in every way we can. Whenever I see a student in the hallway or in our office, I treat them like I would want my own children to be treated. If a student asks me a question, I make phone calls and make sure they know exactly where to go next and why. That’s my contribution to retention, making students feel wanted and welcomed. That’s something we all should do.

Q — As if your FA committee service and mentoring wasn’t enough, you also stepped up to serve as the acting chairperson of our FA elections committee this year. That’s a big job! Why do you do all that you do?

A — Coming in to this role, I had no previous experience with a large election ballot count for all the officers, delegates and half of the Executive Council (EC). Looking back, I realize that I know so much more now. I would jump in again, knowing now what I have to do. I think I did a good job communicating with the committee and I made sure to treat all candidates in a friendly, equitable fashion. I also attended all of the EC meetings and kept that group informed.

There are a ton of rules, so it is a big role. You can read through all of the elections polices and procedures but really the only way to know the role is to actually do it. A major lesson learned is that we need more elections committee members actively involved, especially when it comes to ballot counting. We need to count 300+ ballots twice and be diligent to ensure an accurate count, so you need to have as many hands on deck as you can get.

I think the reason I do all these things was always to be a good example for my children: to contribute, to be a good person and to be kind. Nobody is perfect. Even good people make mistakes, but what matters is the gesture of doing good things for others. I really like contributing. I like being able to say, “I helped with that” or “I did something that benefitted others.”

Q — What does it mean to you to be involved with the FA? Why should everyone contribute to the union?

A — The FA is so important, especially for adjunct faculty. Michele Fitzpatrick does the intake of new adjunct faculty and she’s good about sharing information about the FA as well as the membership form. But whenever I’m introduced to them, I also explain the benefits of joining. I tell people that I was an adjunct for years, so I know what it’s like, and I tell them that I’m an active member now. Sometimes they might hesitate because they are unclear about dues, so I explain how they are prorated by contact hours rather than a set amount.

I also assure adjuncts that the FA will support them should any unexpected issues arise for them at work. This comes up a lot. FA membership isn’t about discounts on travel; it’s about needing a knowledgeable person at your side if any trouble arises. I want them to have proper guidance and proper representation. Even just when being observed, it’s nice to know you can have an FA peer in the room with you.

Also, we have a rule in our office that we reply within 24 hours. We always handle things and don’t let people drop. I also assure adjuncts that we have a really great relationship with Kim Ng Southard who is also very responsive. It helps adjunct faculty to know that our office communicates so well with Kim and the rest of the FA.

I guess that’s the one thing I wish more people knew. The more that people get involved, and the more you get to meet other people in the union, it becomes a community of friendship and support. There are so many ways to get involved, a little or a lot, and everyone should participate.