When Shelli Cockle first came to SFCC in 1986, she planned on transferring to Eastern in order to get a teaching degree to teach middle school. However, things don’t always turn out as planned. Cockle has worked in various capacities for the Community Colleges of Spokane for 27 years, and is currently the Administrative Assistant for Student Life at SFCC.
“I am the primary contact for the student, faculty and staff to give information regarding the student funded programs,” Cockle said.
Cockle’s office is the collection point for the campus wide lost and found, she helps the Student Government in areas of budgeting and travel, and works with Sodexo Food Service regarding catering events.
Cockle was raised in Oroville, Washington, a small town near the Canadian border. As a teenager, Cockle wanted to be a teacher, specifically one for middle school.
“I’ve always liked that sixth grade age mentality,” Cockle said.
Once she decided on a career, she needed to find a school.
“One of my highschool teachers had a sister who was a counselor at SFCC,” Cockle said.
Cockle said she heard good things about transfers from SFCC to Eastern, and in 1986, an 18 year old Shelli Cockle started attending classes here at the Falls and beginning her progression through the CCS ranks.
“(I) started in 1986 as a work student for Parent Co-op Preschool,” Cockle said.
Over the next two years, Cockle progressed from work study to part time employee at the Head Start program.
In 1990, Cockle moved from her part time position to a full-time position. For the next 16 years, she worked at many of the Head-Start offices around Spokane, including on the SFCC campus. In 2006, Cockle transferred to the SFCC financial aid office, where she worked for six years. Last June, Cockle transferred from financial aid to her current position and according to her co-workers has excelled ever since.
“Shelli is amazing…she is very welcoming to students, faculty and staff,” Heather McKenzie WaitE, Director of Student Funded Programs at SFCC, said.
McKenzie WaitE, who works closely with Cockle says that since she started her current position, Cockle has created new forms to simplify the work process and streamline paperwork.
“I was out on maternity leave and Shelli stepped up and saved the day for lack of a better phrase,” McKenzie
WaitE said. “She worked very closely with the ASG to help them in my absence.”
Ali Booth, a student at SFCC who volunteers to clean Cockle’s office says she adores Shelli.
“When we get around each other we usually laugh until we cry,” Booth said.
Cockle says she loves her current job as it allows her to learn something new and do something different every day.
“I think my favorite thing is being able to have a variety of people that need help from me,” Cockle said. “I like to be able to help people in a variety of ways.”