Marla Keesee: Longtime USM Staff Member—14 Years and Counting!

Let’s go back in time to September 1987. The USM First Year class size is 103 people. And the staff size? Five total, all located in one room, in what is now known as the Palisades Room (which was half as big as it is now). And the faculty size? Four total, including Ron and Mary.

Fast forward to September 2001. The First Year class size is 250. The staff numbers 22 full-time positions and 8 part-time, filling 16 offices. There are 16 faculty members.

Can you imagine experiencing firsthand the transformation the University has undergone in the last 14 years? Marla Keesee can.

Marla is USM’s Registrar. She is responsible for processing applications and grades, as well as maintaining transcripts and student records. Marla is also responsible for administering the University’s Academic policies and procedures.

Marla has personally received and processed every single one of the hundreds of applications and student records that have flowed through the University in the course of her work. If you are a current student or a grad, then you have likely spent time with Marla, whether it was discussing your application, your recommendations, your home assignments, or seeking assistance with other details relative to the Registrar’s office. The amazing thing about all this is that she probably remembers you, no matter when you attended the Program!

What do we hear over and over from students who have come into contact with Marla? That she is one of the most diligent, caring, thorough, and kind persons they have met. Marla is an excellent example of one of USM’s primary educational goals, “The competent USM graduate meets the world first and foremost with a compassionate heart.”

“It takes an extraordinary person to handle the paperwork and administration associated with a Registrar’s office while maintaining a high level of loving customer service,” shares USM Academic Vice-President, Mary Hulnick. “Marla does just that – and she’s been doing it consistently with loving devotion for fourteen years.”

We spent some time with Marla, asking her what it’s been like to be part of this evolving organization and what her experience of this journey has been.

Back in 1987, when she applied for the position of Associate Registrar, Marla was, like many USM students, in the midst of some major life changes and was looking for meaningful work.

She thought, based on her classroom experience, that working at USM might be a good fit — and when she heard the University was looking for an Associate Registrar, she applied.

One of the more unusual things about Marla as it relates to her position on staff is that she lives in Newbury Park, CA. For those of you who don’t know this area, Newbury Park is located 40 miles north of Santa Monica. To give you a sense of the degree to which the traffic in Los Angeles has grown, since Marla started working at USM in 1987, her commute has gone from about 45 minutes to an hour and twenty minutes, each way! Her commute time has almost doubled, yet her commitment remains steady.

“I have always enjoyed what I’m doing here,” Marla shares. “I have been supported in growing in my role, and I have also been supported in continuing my own growth both personally and spiritually — and I make good use of the commute time. I buy books on tape, listen to Greek music, and I use the time to contemplate. The commute time is my time. I also use it to plan my trips.”

Oh yes — Marla’s trips. Marla has traveled to 12 different foreign countries since working at USM. She has also raised her daughter Danielle, who was 8 years old when she started, and is now a college student.

“I remember bringing Danielle in to work with me when she wasn’t feeling well, or on her days off from school. I’d bring her blanket, her toys, and she’d curl up and sleep under my desk. One summer she even helped with some tasks for USM and earned a little spending money.”

We asked Marla how she has dealt with all the changes over the years.

“What’s funny about this is that I’m a relatively conservative person. Change hasn’t always come easy for me. Yet, the one thing that’s constant at USM is change — it’s a very alive environment that’s constantly evolving. USM walks the talk when it comes to one of Ron’s favorite phrases — ‘continuous improvement.’ One of my biggest learnings has been not to get too attached to things being a certain way.”

Marla also talked about some of her other learnings over the years.

“One area I have grown tremendously in is going from tunnel-thinking to visionary thinking. I attribute a lot of that growth to working closely with Mary — she has been a great coach over the years. And I’m very grateful for the level of trust that’s been given to me and the level of caring that’s been demonstrated over the years. It is like the level of care and dedication we give the students. We are constantly looking at how we can uplevel the Program and give better customer service, which translates into the level of caring and loving we provide.”

What’s Marla’s favorite part of her job?

“I love the fact that my job allows me to interact directly with and support the students from the application process through graduation. One of my biggest jobs is making sure that everything is complete and accurate for graduation — that all the students’ grades are documented, all the diplomas are accurate, and that they are all in the right alphabetical order! I love graduation. I love looking at the students’ faces and knowing they have done their part, and we have also done ours. Graduation is a culmination; there’s closure to one door and then another door opens for the new students coming forward.”

This year a significant change has come forward in the Registrar area. USM has added a new position, Assistant Registrar. This position is held by Amy Hruby, a 2001 graduate. How has this change affected Marla?

“Bringing in Amy is the best thing that ever happened. Her coming in is another step for me in letting go. At some point, I am going to retire, and I now know that, with the foundation we have laid, the work I have dedicated myself to over the years can continue with excellence, grace, and ease.”

Well, we aren’t letting go of Marla anytime soon :-) ! Marla, thank you from all of us at USM for your dedication, your impeccable service, and your loving. You are this University of Santa Monica, Marla, and we love you!

• Return to Archives