The Heart of Humanities
By Valeria Raymond
Within the lounges of the Humanities building sit many plants, including small trees, flowers, and potted greenery. The addition of the plants gives staff and students a place to work, converse, or relax in areas of biophilic design rather than being surrounded by plain white walls. It was Odile Delgado, 39, who brought them there, dedicated to creating a calmer and more welcoming environment after the building was first renovated for a film production. “I don't know how many students just sit there to do like homework or even take their own classes. It's great,” said Delgado.
Praised by staff and colleagues for her kindheartedness and dedication to her job, Delgado leaves a lasting impact on those she meets and on the Humanities building, never afraid to lend a hand. “I feel like the school wouldn't function without her,” said Lizz Elvira, the assistant director of the Multicultural Center and the Food Pantry supervisor.
Delgado came to Purchase College as a transfer and work-study student majoring in psychology. Before graduating in 2012, Delgado was recruited by someone who was then an SL2 to fill that role for the School of Humanities at Purchase. SLs, which can stand for Staff Level or Service Level, are rankings done in state administrative positions, and as you are promoted to a higher SL, the pay range increases. An SL2 is at the beginning of a career, while SL5 and up is advanced. Although she was unsure at the time if she wanted the position due to being a graduating student, Delgado was influenced by the SL2 and a then-SL3 to take on the role. “She was like, ‘Do you want the job,’” said Delgado. “I was like, ‘Yes, I'll take it if you give it to me.’” After the SL3 retired, Delgado took on their position and has been the operations and finance manager for the School of Humanities and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) coordinator for Purchase College ever since.
As the operations and finance manager, Delgado manages data sets and numbers on specific operations, including events, classes, scheduling, hiring forms, compensating and budgeting. Handling this information and data is valuable, as communicating across different parts of the college is important, and with the right data, questions and conflicts can be resolved by Delgado right away. “She's been really instrumental in that,” said Mariel Rodney, an associate professor of English and global literatures. “Odile has been a grounding force in navigating us through those challenges because some of those things are just above us as Purchase employees.”
Elvira, who once worked with Delgado in Humanities, noted that Delgado is “indispensable” to faculty and even during the hardest periods that Purchase College has faced, Delgado remains a pillar to support communities. “She helped carry things through COVID, making sure that things stayed functioning from an administrative perspective,” said Elvira. Elvira sees Delgado as an individual always willing to “lend a hand, from setting up tables, running accounts, and doing everything.”
Aviva Taubenfeld, the director of the School of Humanities, works next door to Delgado and has known her for years. Taubenfeld stated that Delgado is a highly respected figure, not only due to her exceptional skills, but for her warm, patient, down-to-earth personality.
“She may have taught me how to do something on Excel, and I still don't know how to do it,” said Taubenfeld. “And I can ask her again, and she never makes anybody feel bad for it.”
Taubenfeld emphasized that Delgado is incredibly efficient at her job and can make complex systems understandable. “She makes it look easy, and that’s a little bit unfair,” said Taubenfeld.
Although Delgado works as the operations and finance manager for the School of Humanities, she has also done other voluntary work. This includes becoming Purchase College’s EAP coordinator in January 2017 and being a board member of The Children’s Center, where her daughter once attended. As an EAP coordinator, Delgado meets employees, faculty, staff and other individuals to have confidential discussions on workplace, family, or financial challenges, while offering referrals for counseling or community resources. Not only does Delgado assist both students and faculty on campus, but she also goes off campus every month to meet with other coordinators and employees, consistently advocating for their well-being. “She will sit with them, guide them, and find resources for them. And I think that that is something that's so underappreciated,” said Elvira.
While Delgado manages to successfully complete tasks provided to her on campus, she revealed the hardship of doing the job meant for two people. “We're short-staffed,” stated Delgado. “I have to work two positions without any extra pay or anything like that. There's no urgency to get somebody else, and to me, I don't like that.”
Taubenfeld added that Leah Springer, a former event planner, worked alongside and supported Delgado, but left in December and has not been replaced. “A tremendous amount has fallen on Odile in ways that are unfair,” said Taubenfeld.
Rodney acknowledges the significance of finding assistance for Delgado so that a heavy “burden doesn’t fall on her.” “As much as we love her, we certainly need to protect her so that she doesn't experience burnout and fatigue or have a decline in health, right,” said Rodney.
“It's something that one person alone should not be tasked with doing, and yet she does it so gracefully,” said Rodney.
Though the tasks given to Delgado can be demanding and overwhelming, Delgado does not allow the circumstances to change who she is as an individual or how she does her work. “Odile has a heavy workload, but is a very warmhearted, generous and supportive colleague,” said Stella Kristensen, a program coordinator in the Social Sciences building.
With a bright smile to welcome you, Odile keeps the door to her office open to everyone in the Humanities building, stating that if anybody has any questions, they could always come to her. “I get students. I get faculty. Anytime someone needs something or needs help, they're here,” said Delgado. Continuously creating community for others, whether it is through biophilic designs, program and event planning, being friendly and always meeting new people, or managing data within her office, Delgado remains a significant figure professionally and socially.
“I think that faculty across Humanities would say that Odile is the heart and soul of the School of Humanities,” said Taubenfeld.
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