During the June 19 meeting of the Navajo County Community College District Governing Board retiring employee Beaulah Bob-Pennypacker was honored with the Administrator Emeritus Award.
Northland Pioneer College Director of Human Resources Chris Roediger presented Pennypacker with the award. “Several of us will be miserable without her,” said Roediger. Pennypacker has been the director of the Financial Aid Department for the college for the last 12 years.
Pennypacker earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University in 1993 and began her NPC career in 1994 at the Kayenta Center. “When she worked at Kayenta she loved working with the community and really serving the individual components of the Navajo Nation,” said Roediger. Pennypacker then moved to the Financial Aid Department in 1996 and worked her way up to the director position.
Pennypacker has been dedicated to serving the students during her career. “Beaulah, we thank you for your service and we wish you the best in this new season of life,” said Roediger. NPC Chief Business Officer Maderia Ellison added, “What has always stood out about Beaulah is her commitment and dedication to the students. There are a number of lives she has touched over the years and without her encouragement, her care, her holding hands at times, some of these students would not have made it through.”
Pennypacker was emotional and simply said, “I will miss NPC.” Pennypacker’s family was in attendance to show their love and support as she begins her new adventures.
With the retirement of Pennypacker, later in the meeting the board approved an interim director of financial aid to get the college through this peak financial aid processing time. A candidate has been chosen but will be officially announced at a later date. This position will run approximately three months.
NPC has chosen not to promote from within to resolve the staff shortage due to the heavy workload during this season. There will be no disruptions to financial aid processing and a national search will be conducted for a permanent candidate for the position.
