Pat Siebrasse understands the terms dedication and longevity. In her 47th year of working at NIU, currently in her role as office manager for the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences, Siebrasse has worked on campus longer than every other employee. She began work on July 2, 1962.

The Star wanted to find out more about Siebrasse and get some insights into what 47 years of being at NIU is like.

Northern Star: How does it feel to be the longest working employee at NIU?
Pat Siebrasse: I just enjoy the job. I need something to do so I continue to work. And I have good people to work with and so I keep working.

NS: What made you first want to work at NIU?
PS: I was just job searching at the time. I applied at Northern and was hired and been here ever since.

NS: Is this the same job you have had?
PS: I’m in the same department. I’ve changed classifications. I began as a secretary one or a clerk and it was the Department of Home Economics and then we changed to Department of Human and Family Resources and then we are now the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences. And my role currently is office manager.

NS: What is one of the most significant changes you have seen around NIU?
PS: All the buildings that have gone up. There have been a lot of buildings that have gone up. They were just starting on the student center, so that park area in front of the student center was not there. There were houses there. There were houses across the street where the Campus Life Building now is. There were dorms over there. We had offices in some of those houses. We still have offices across campus. So we’ve been spread across campus, although it is nice to be back in Wirtz [Hall].

NS: How much longer do you think you will be at NIU?
PS: I don’t know. It’s, unfortunately, with the economy and the state budget system, it’s getting harder to — not that I don’t enjoy it, because I still enjoy it— but there’s just more hurdles to jump over and it’s getting harder to do things.

NS: When you began working at NIU 47 years ago, did you expect to still be here?
PS: No, I did not. I really didn’t. One of my regrets is that I didn’t start taking classes early on. Three of my children have been born while I was here so that took some time out. No I didn’t think I would be here, but I still enjoy it.

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