Janet Studer-Stratton started her career at the UO in 1972 as a clerk at the Knight Library, assisting with a conversion of the library catalogs from the Dewey Decimal System to the Library of Congress system. From there, she briefly worked at the Oregon State Department of Welfare as a receptionist and a data entry operator for five years, and after that returned to the UO--in positions at the Business Office, Payroll Dept , Affirmative Action, Human Resources Department and the Financial Aid Office.  She says she found her niche in 1983, when she joined the staff of the School of Journalism as a receptionist.  At the time, the school had only 500 undergraduate students.

On Tuesday afternoon, Studer-Stratton was one of two UO classified employees recognized for 35 years of service at a recognition luncheon held on campus.

"The changes I've seen in the 23 years I've worked in this department have been astronomical," Studer-Stratton says. When I started working in the Journalism Department (back in 1985), my job was multi-faceted.  We had only 500 undergraduates in the school at the time and I was Receptionist, Graduate Secretary (we had about 25-30 graduate students at that time) Undergraduate Secretary, KTA Treasurer, Oregon Scholastic Press Association Secretary, and Dean's Assistant.  All of these duties took place upstairs in what is now room 200, the Faculty Office. Computers had not yet taken over the school and most everything was done by long hand, typewriter and on forms. There were only three staff members at the time. The University Press took up all of the first floor which is now student services.   

Today the school has eight classified staff members.  In her current position as undergraduate program assistant, Studer-Stratton processes all the paperwork for an undergraduate from the time a student arrives until they leave and is one of the smiling faces greeting students in the John Hulteng Student Services Center from 8 to 5 each weekday.  She also serves as Kappa Tau Alpha secretary/treasurer.

"Janet has been here longer than most of the faculty," says Greg Kerber, assistant dean for student services, "Janet has been the heart of our undergraduate office since she came to the school in 1983."

"Janet has helped literally thousands of students over the years," Associate Dean Al Stavitsky adds.  "And she's helped me in numerous ways."

Studer-Stratton says there's a reason for her longevity at the school:  "The fact that I have been here in  the Journalism School for 23 years speaks volumes about the staff, students, and faculty that come through our doors every day.  The people I've worked with, for, and around for many years have  been very supportive of each other and that goes a long way to making people feel comfortable in their working environment... I've often heard the term "SOJC" Family on more than one occasion;  that's what I feel this department promotes. We actually care about each other and we feel at home here.  When you think about spending 1/2 your life or longer working, you want it to be somewhere like the J-School where we are acknowledged for who we are and what we contribute to the overall good of the school."

Studer-Stratton says she has only one regret:  "I wish I'd kept a journal for all the years I've worked here as I would like to look back, read what was written and get a few laughs along the way."