When Leanna Bowman started working as a front counter clerk for Western’s Registrar’s Office, students stood in line to register for their classes in person.
Now more than 30 years after starting at Western in 1989, Bowman is ready to retire as the IT business analyst for the Registrar’s Office, after serving as front desk supervisor and manager and then on the systems team.
“When I began working at WWU, I never thought it would be where I ended my career three decades later,” she says. “I have worked with so many talented, caring individuals throughout my career and have made some lasting friendships that I will take with me. I am very proud of the work the Registrar’s Office has accomplished over the years and am happy to leave it in the capable hands of the current, amazing team.”
Bowman estimates that she has helped about 1 million students register over the years, and has set up and facilitated registration for more than 2 million students, whether it was in person, over the phone or online. When the Registrar’s Office became one of the first offices at Western to have a website, she took an html class and became the office’s first webmaster, training department administrators and others to use course setup and registration software.
Bowman’s last day at Western is July 1, and she will be missed dearly by her colleagues. Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Shelli Soto described Bowman as a go-to colleague when issues arise, whose span of work over the decades is awe-inspiring.
“As long as things go smoothly, often little attention is paid to the work behind the scenes that allows registration to happen. Much of the work that Leanna has done over the years has been unsung, and we have been so very fortunate to have her as part of the team in the Registrar’s Office,” Soto says. “Colleagues across campus have regularly expressed appreciation for Leanna’s problem-solving ability and her helpful nature. Western has benefited greatly from the many contributions that Leanna has made, and we will miss her warmth and her positivity. We wish her the very best in a well-earned retirement.”
Source: https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/news/leanna-bowman-retires-after-more-than-30-years-in-wwu-registrar-s-office
