OCC Employees Recognized for Years of Service

When students need help registering for classes or scheduling counseling appointments, they often are greeted by Rochelle Ginsburg. 

Her soft-spoken and reassuring voice is one that has filtered through OCC’s campuses for 40 years. 

Ginsburg
Student Support Specialist Rochelle Ginsburg points to a photo of her sitting at the Welcome Desk at the Southfield campus. Ginsburg has worked at OCC for 40 years.

“I just try to make things easier for students,” said Ginsburg, a student support specialist in the counseling department.  “I enjoy helping them discover themselves and give them encouragement. Many of them are scared of moving to the college environment. We have some students who are in their 60s or 70s and I’ll tell them ‘You’ll do fine,’ and they appreciate that.” 

Ginsburg was recognized as the employee with the most years of service during an anniversary and retirement event Friday, Oct. 18 at the College’s Orchard Ridge campus. 

Employees at the heart of student success 

If you walk by the OCC timeline wall at the Southfield campus, you’ll find a photo of Ginsburg sitting at the Welcome Desk during her earlier years at the College. 

Her job was different back then –there were no Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings. Things were done the old fashion way – by phone or in person. 

Ginsburg began working at OCC as a work study student in the PlayCare Center at the Royal Oak campus. Two years later, the Oak Park resident was hired as a secretary for the communications department at the District Office, where she worked for 14 years. She then moved on to work as secretary for the director of community development and student support specialist for enrollment services and admissions departments.  

“Students come back and visit the College and when they see me they say, ‘Oh, I’m so glad you are here’ and tell me what they are up to now,” said Ginsburg, who received an associate degree in word processing and text editing from the College in June 1984. “I really enjoy my job.” 
 

Employees 10 Years
OCC employees with 10 years of service at the 2024 Milestones and Retirees Recognition event.

Employees empower OCC 

Ginsburg was one of approximately 90 employeesand retirees recognized at the 2024 Milestones and Retiree Recognition event. 

“Our employees truly empower OCC,” said OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano. “Working side-by-side, through your many years of service, OCC students achieve their dreams and our community is stronger.” 

View photos from the event. 

2024 OCC Milestone Honorees 

Following is the list of esteemed employees and retirees who were recognized for their years of service at OCC.   

40 Years 

  • Rochelle Ginsburg – Student Support Specialist I (SF) 

35 Years 

  • Madeline Graziadei – Secretary, Academic Affairs (AH) 

30 Years 

  • Imad Dakka, Ph.D. – Faculty, Mathematics (RO)
  • Stacey Dyer – Budget & Financial Planning Manager (AH)
  • Sandra Happel – PT Paraprofessional, Photography (OR)
  • Bill Isanhart – Faculty, Philosophy (AH)
  • Steve Linden – Registrar (AH)
  • Dwayne McCoy – Facility Technician Apprentice (OR)
  • Patrick O’Connor – Faculty, Political Science (AH)
  • Deborah Randolph – Faculty, English (AH)
  • Heidi Renton – Student Engagement Coordinator (AH)
  • Kerry Smith – Faculty, Biology (AH)
  • Mark Stevenson – Faculty, Mathematics (AH) 

25 Years 

  • Dan Cherewick – Director of Physical Facilities (AH)
  • Candy Geeter – Administrative Assistant, Student Services (AH)
  • Dennis Haleks – Chief, Campus Facility Operations (OR)
  • Susan Henke – Administrative Specialist II, EMIT (AH)
  • Cyndi Hull – Custodian (AH)
  • Anthony Lizardi – Custodian (AH)
  • Brenda Lowery – Student Engagement Coordinator (OR)
  • Ron Prince – Custodian (OR)
  • Michael Rowe – Director, Enterprise Systems & Security (AH) 

20 Years 

  • Susan Appelt – Learning Resources Technician (AH)
  • John Borowski – Desktop Support Manager (OR)
  • Sharon Converse – Controller (AH)
  • Michael Cullen – Grounds Keeper (AH)
  • Kirstine Evans – Faculty, Counselor (AH)
  • Daniel Frezza – Desktop Support Manager (AH)
  • Catherine Garcia – Superintendent, Buildings & Grounds (HL)
  • Saul Grunfeld – Faculty, Chemistry (SF)
  • Carol Hufnagel – Student Support Specialist I (RO)
  • Shelley Larson – Faculty, Communication (RO)
  • Kayla LeBlanc – Dean of Academic Technology & Instructional Innovation (AH)
  • Laure Masa – Printing Specialist (AH)
  • Matthew Meixner – Facility Technician (OR)
  • Sylvia J. Neal – Paraprofessional, Biology (AH)
  • Anthony Racka – Faculty, Business (AH)
  • Edward Stotts – Faculty, Counselor (RO)
  • Debra Wagrowski – Public Safety Officer (AH) 

15 Years 

  • Kathleen Andreassi – PT Secretary, Athletics (AH)
  • Nina Barkell – Faculty, Nursing (HL)
  • Vanessa Belcher – Human Resources Coordinator, Benefits (AH)
  • Kerry Daniel – Instructional Technologist (AH)
  • Ramy El Shaer – Faculty, Biology (SF)
  • Julie Gunkelman – Faculty, Mathematics (OR)
  • Kaitlin Guzzi – Faculty, Biology (AH)
  • Scott Hayes – Custodian (AH)
  • Terra Heard – Administrative Specialist II, Counseling & Student Success (OR)
  • David Pasko – Public Safety Officer (RO)
  • Dawn Perkowski – Curriculum Analyst (AH)
  • Catherine Ryerson – Student Services Specialist (AH)
  • Lawrence Stark – Faculty, Philosophy (AH)
  • David Strand – Faculty, Philosophy (OR)
  • Kenneth Van Sparrentak – Faculty, Criminal Justice (AH)
  • Jeff Zachwieja – Library Electronic Resources Coordinator (OR) 

10 Years 

  • Keith Birberick – Public Safety Officer (AH)
  • Kevin Bratton, Ph.D. – Academic Dean, Social Sciences (AH)
  • Cindy Carbone – Academic Dean, Communication, Arts & Humanities (OR)
  • Michelle Compton – Faculty, Nursing (HL)
  • Heidi Fink – Payroll Specialist (AH)
  • Barbara Klomp – Program Director, Radiologic Technology (SF)
  • Scott Kokotovich – Faculty, Counselor (AH)
  • Meena Kondapi – Faculty, Economics (SF)
  • Pamela Micallef – Faculty, Counselor (HL)
  • Jimmie Myers – Public Safety Officer (AH)
  • Peter Provenzano – Chancellor (AH)
  • Dennis Quist – Faculty, Chemistry (AH)
  • Danielle Ryerson – Student Support Specialist I (AH)
  • Anthony Thomas – Faculty, Counselor (OR) 

2024 Retirees 

  • Gail Adams - Administrative Assistant, Student Services (HL)
  • Cheryl Aretha – Faculty, Biology (HL)
  • Steven Berman – Faculty, English (AH)
  • Mary Chambers – Human Resources Coordinator, HRIS (AH)
  • Beeyi Chen – IT Project Manager (AH)
  • Brenda Dilworth – Paraprofessional, ASC (AH)
  • Jeffrey Eichold – Faculty, Biology (SF)
  • Mary Eichold – Materials Specialist (SF)
  • Baiba Ejups – PT Secretary, ACCESS (HL)
  • Christina Felcyn – Financial Aid Advisor (AH)
  • Karen Johnson – Financial Aid Advisor (RO)
  • Muriel MacLin – Student Support Specialist I (SF)
  • Steve Messina-Coordinator, ACCESS (RO) 
  • Alicia Paramo-Dionne – Faculty, Counselor (AH)
  • Erin Scott – Faculty, Art (AH)
  • Ginny Seeterlin – Financial Aid Specialist, Veteran Affairs (AH)
  • Marian Shirlee – Administrative Specialist II, English & Communication (OR)
  • David Tarabusi – Learning Resources Technician (OR)
  • Frank Zechmeister – Chief, Campus Facility Operations (AH) 

About OCC  

Oakland Community College offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling with face-to-face and online options. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training with expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.

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