Veteran women managers discuss change at MHCC

The American Association for Women In Community College (AAWCC) gathered in the Town & Gown room to hear a discussion on the changes the college has been through, led by three veteran AAWCC members.

Brenda Brady, IT project and portfolio management manager, started at MHCC in 1988. Sheri Mosher, director of accreditation, began working at the college in 1979. Raye Ann Yapp, program director and full-time instructor of dental hygiene, started here in 1984.

The panel answered questions centered around how women can succeed in the workforce. They began by explaining their MHCC employment history. Each woman started out at an entry-level, low-income job and worked her way up to her current position.

A fact thrown out by Brady, and repeated quite frequently, was that when they first started working at MHCC, women got paid 60 percent of what men got for an equivalent job. Now (on average) they get paid 81 percent.

The biggest change the three women experienced at the college is how technology changes most everything about how people do their daily tasks. But, Brady went on to say that the real startling thing was what hadn’t changed: “What struck me was how little facilities had changed” at Mt. Hood, she said.

One transition they all could agree was positive was the change in leadership. The AAWCC audience clapped excitedly at the thought of the change President Debbie Derr is, and will be, bringing to Mt. Hood.

The women discussed when they first started and why they stayed on here at MHCC. Although each had unique stories, most agreed that the community and experience of working at the college is what keeps them here.

“For me, it’s primarily the students, those ‘Aha’ moments, watching them go on and make life decisions,” said Yapp.

After the panel discussion, the trio fielded the audience’s questions. All three had advice to pass on to their fellow AAWCC members.

“Have a goal. Look around and learn where your opportunities are,” said Yapp.

Mosher said, “Always look at ways to grow yourself.”

“There is always something to learn from your colleagues,” said Brady.