Nancy Ryan and Courtney Callahan
By Kerri Linsenbigler
Features Editor
On Fridays, nearly 1,200 workers on Bonaventure’s campus eagerly await their paychecks. The hard-earned money may go toward bills, books or even entertainment. If it weren’t for Nancy Ryan and Courtney Callahan, however, none of these things could be accomplished.
Callahan, the payroll clerk, manages all of the student and hourly workers, while Ryan, the senior payroll processor, takes care of faculty, administration, religious and monthly paychecks.
“It’s just a good system in place that we have,” Ryan said. “We’re good at what we do.”
For years, Ryan said, a job at Bonaventure had been her dream. Finally, the opportunity arose 12 years ago when Bonaventure stopped outsourcing their payroll department and returned it back to the university.
“I just kept applying,” Ryan said. “It took me about 20 years, applying for different things. Then (the university) had a payroll position, so they hired me full time.”
Bonaventure had always held a special place in Ryan’s heart, not to mention the hearts of her family members. Purchasing, advancement, the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and technology services can all count a member of Ryan’s family on their staff.
“I ended up bringing half my family here to work,” Ryan said. “I have two sisters-in-law, a daughter and a son-in-law (that worked at Bonaventure). It’s a big part of our life.”
Callahan, on the other hand, started at Bonaventure just two years ago. The students and the Bonaventure atmosphere are the best part of the job, she said.
“I just said the other day (how) I get so excited when the students come back,” Callahan said. “The campus comes to life when the students come back. (During the summer) it’s such a ghost town.”
Unlike Ryan, Callahan is the only member of her family who works at Bonaventure. However, she said she is raising her daughter to be filled with Bona pride.
“(My daughter), Felicia, is in kindergarten in Allegany,” Callahan said. “She’s already a basketball fan. When the students get to be a little rowdy, she’ll always say, ‘they need a timeout.’”
Both Ryan and Callahan want to remind students that they’re always available.
“Our door’s always open to help kids out if they have problems,” Ryan said. “We’re always willing to answer any questions.”
*”Bonaventure’s unsung heroes” will profile extraordinary faculty, staff and administrators throughout the semester.
