Kathy Wysocki is more than just a tutoring coordinator, but a personable, approachable, friendly source of comfort for the students who interact with her. She’s one of the first faces you see as you walk into the Teaching and Learning Center on campus.
Wysocki works as the tutoring coordinator in the TLC. She’s held this position for two years, working previously in the registrar’s office for a year and as a medical secretary for multiple years before that. She knew she wanted to work at a school with students on a personal level as her pre-teen daughter, Hanna, grew older.
Wysocki’s job as the tutoring coordinator includes setting up tutoring sessions, moderating between tutors and students about missed appointments, rescheduling appointments and working payroll for both the tutors and supplemental instruction leaders.
“It’s not just setting up appointments,” said Wysocki. “It’s being there for the students.”
Wysocki said the students are her favorite part about the job. She knows almost everyone by name who frequents the center and understands that it’s easier for students to struggle when they have to learn something they’re not passionate about. She enjoys listening to the tutors communicate with the students to create ways in which the material can become more relatable and, therefore, more easily understood.
She feels accomplished knowing she can help stressed students get the help they need to accomplish their goals. Creating a connection with students to allow the center to be a space for students to decompress is something Wysocki enjoys. One student in particular will often pull a chair up to her desk and eat lunch in her company, said Wysocki.
“Kathy is an amazing person,” said senior journalism major, Nicholas Gallo. “She really is such a help to all the students and welcoming of everyone. She is one of the best people I have met since being back at Bona’s. I’m really grateful to have her in my life, and I recommend everyone meets her and gets to know her more as a person than just some lady behind a desk.”
Nina Peterson, the HEOP administrative assistant who shares a front desk with Wysocki in the center said Wysocki is always bubbly and happy, despite all the work and commotion going on around her. She’s positive and always has a good attitude.
“Even if she is not ready for the day, she fakes it. Her personal life doesn’t get brought to work,” Peterson said. “She gets pulled in a lot of different directions between students and different faculty here. Even if she’s on the verge of losing it, she always holds it together.”
Adriane Spencer, director of disability support services, was one of the people who interviewed and ultimately selected Wysocki for this job. Spencer said Wysocki’s personality and work ethic are what secured the position for her. She continued to say that Wysocki has an amazing sense of humor, which is crucial to their work environment.
“We laugh a lot. When students are stressed and anxious about whatever, things get really stressful around here too,” Spencer said. “But Kathy is a calming force with her humor.”
She also commented on Wysocki’s work ethic saying, “When there’s a service that students expect to have, they don’t always recognize the work that goes on behind the scenes to make that possible. Kathy does a great job coordinating all the tutoring and making it personal rather than just a service.”
By Fraser Breon, Staff Writer
breonaf18@bonaventure.edu
