Alumni Spotlight - Cynthia Andrews

A self-described ‘natural-born leader,’ Cynthia Andrews found a new path by attending EvCC. She was a 30-year old single mother looking to change careers, with no idea how to do so. After enrolling at the college, she became the student body president and the program coordinator for multicultural services, working with people from different cultures and enhancing her public speaking skills. As a result, she later spent several years organizing leadership conferences in South Africa. Today, Cynthia is a business consultant, aging enthusiast, and host of the radio talk show, “Living It Up After 50.” “EvCC created a very wonderful educational experience and a huge extended family,” she says. “It was the beginning of a new life for me and my children.” Cynthia is still pursuing her dream and is currently writing her first book, scheduled for release next February. “Never give up your dream and tapping into your gifts,” she advises. “It’s never too late!”

Please tell me what you're currently doing.

I am an aging enthusiast, business consultant and radio talk show host. I own a consulting firm that provides outreach/community engagement services, non-profit consulting services and aging services. I also host a radio show called Living it Up After 50 every Friday morning on blogtalkradio (soon to be a daily morning show).
 
How did you choose EvCC? Was there a selection process involved in your decision making?

I was a single mother of three who had been in the cosmetology industry since the age of 18. I taught and managed beauty schools and then worked in the salon. I realized my children were spending many late evenings at the salon with me and I had to make a change. That is when I learned about the women's program for re-entry students at EvCC. I was a 30 year old, African American, single mother who was now looking to change careers and had no idea how to do so. But it was an easy process and I was in school in no time.   

Do you think your time at EvCC helped you pursue your current career?

Yes.

How?

I took great classes in sociology and anthropology where I enjoyed and challenged my instructors. I am a natural born leader and many folks at EvCC saw that in me. I became student body president and I was active in many campus and political organizations. Then I was hired in the office of multicultural services as a program coordinator, which gave me even more skills towards finding my path. I learned to work with different cultures and diverse populations and definitely enhanced my public speaking skills.

What did you do after you left (or graduated from) EvCC?

After graduation, I continued on as staff in multicultural services and women's programs where I worked, coordinated, and facilitated a very successful teen parent program and worked as a trainer with the Northwest Center for Equity and Diversity, which was also on the EvCC campus. I went on to University of Washington branch campus  and landed an agency coordinator position with Communities In Schools, which paid quite well for a single mother.  

Was there anyone during your time at EvCC who acted as a mentor for you?

Yes, I had several: Steve Bader, former Dean of Multicultural and Student Services, Joan Tucker, Counselor and my diversity guru, Joanne Ashlock and Rich Haldi in Student Activities, and, of course, Bob Drewel, the president of EvCC. Bob took me under his wing and taught me so much about how people, politics and the system works. But mostly, how people matter and to always have a listening ear. Together, as ASB President and EvCC President, we were able to accomplish many things in Olympia for students.

Tell me about that relationship and why it was valuable.

I value our continued relationship still today. Bob taught me that even though positions change, relationships never change. He has helped me through my education at EvCC, embraced my children, and he still follows my career today. And I model what he taught me still today

What words of advice would you give to current EvCC students?

Never give up pursuing your dream and tapping into your gifts. As an older student, it's never too late. EvCC created very wonderful educational experience, a huge extended family, and the beginning of a new life for me and my children.  

Any other information you would like to provide?

I am still pursuing my dream, writing my first book that will be released in February 2015. People can find out more about it on my Go Fund Me page.

Alumni ad published 10/27/2014