Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø

After graduating Epping High School in 1968, Sue Bennett’s mother told her she either had to go to college or get a job. Well, Sue did both. She started working at Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø three days after she graduated, and during her tenure, she earned three college degrees: an associate degree from the College for Lifelong Learning (now Granite State College), a Bachelor of Science from Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø and her MBA from Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University).

On June 16, 1968, Sue started in Dimond Library as a card cataloger, creating a card for every new book.Ìý (Do you remember the rows of card catalogs in Dimond Library?)Ìý Well, for seven-plus years, that was thanks to Sue. In 1975, she was transferred and promoted to supervisor of the work control center within Physical Plant Operations & Maintenance, now called facilities.Ìý

In 1979 when the department was restructuring, creating four work areas on campus for maintenance, Sue became one of the first women to work as a maintenance manager in a field that still hadn’t fully accepted women into the workforce. In fact, as she began this new role, several staff members resigned rather than report to a woman.

In 1986, Sue was promoted to director of plant maintenance. In addition to a short stint overseeing the automotive garage, her primary responsibility was managing Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø maintenance contracts.Ìý That role expanded, and during the past 20 years, she has overseen the majority of contracts for Facilities, including maintenance, life safety and housekeeping. Sue has been a gender groundbreaker and role model for Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø and is greatly admired. What’s more, she is one of a rare few employees to have worked at the university for 50 years.

Sue’s most memorable Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø moments have been meeting her husband Walter, a now retired Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø plumber, raising their two daughters and sharing so much of what our Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø community has to offer with them and their eight grandchildren during these many years: bowling in the MUB, lunch in the dining halls, trips to the university museums, attending Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø athletic events, summer camp programs, to name just a few — and of course, Sue’s education, which she takes great pride in.

Sue, thank you for your passion, commitment and service to the University of Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø, and congratulations on your 50 years of service.