MERLETTE SCHNELL, the department administrator in philosophy, says: “The campus atmosphere has kept me here for almost 30 years. I won’t become rich and famous working here, but I enjoy an atmosphere where learning, asking important questions and wondering why is applauded more than how much money you made for the organization this month. Dealing with students is helping, hopefully, to keep me from becoming an old biddy. And I work with literally brilliant people—some of that just has to rub off.” 

Keeping a sense of humour and not taking it all too seriously is the key to survival, says Schnell. In her spare time she reads, enjoys photography, music and being a student of the Bible. She recently became the genealogist of her family, tracing her roots back to Germany, Romania and Russia in the 1700s.  
/ Photo by Ken Bendiktsen