Danville, Va. — With the longest tenure of any classified staff member in the history of Danville Community College (DCC), Nancy Taylor Reynolds has witnessed the transformation of the DCC campus for nearly half a century. After 47 years and 10 months, as of July 1, 2018, Reynolds will retire from her post at DCC.
Reynolds transitioned from being a student at the college to a graduate to an employee over a matter of weeks nearly 48 years ago.
“My mother used to tell people that I went to DCC and never left,” Reynolds, born and raised in Pittsylvania County, said with a laugh.
Reynolds graduated from DCC in 1970 from the college’s secretarial science program, now called administrative support technology. Back then, students were grouped according to curriculum and secretarial science had two sections. Reynolds’ section had 17 students and their classes were block scheduled, meaning they spent the entire day with the same classmates.
“I loved the freedom,” Reynolds said. “It was so different from high school. One day, several of us decided to leave campus and skip our afternoon classes. As we were leaving the parking lot, our afternoon instructor was driving in. We waved, went to lunch, and came back to class.”
She explained that she truly enjoyed coming to class every day, especially because of the atmosphere at the college.
“My classes were so interesting,” Reynolds said. “The instructors became our friends, as long as we had done our assignments. I absolutely loved coming to class.”
Reynolds’ rapport with the college faculty led to an employment opportunity before she graduated.
“When I was in line for graduation practice, Tommy Cannon, one of my instructors, asked me if I had a job lined up. I told him that I had two offers that I was considering, but I wasn’t crazy about either one. He said there was an opening at the college that would lead to other opportunities if I was interested,” Reynolds said. “He encouraged me to come to the college on Monday and apply. I did, and the rest is history — I did ask for a two-week break before I started work so I could go to Atlanta for a baseball tournament.”
Her first position at DCC was answering the switchboard and helping out in the admissions, counseling, and president’s offices. When the college’s financial aid office was first launched, she became the administrative assistant while one of the counselors, John McRae, became the director.
“My next move was to become the administrative assistant in the counseling office, where I worked for four people,” Reynolds explained. “If you think it is hard working for one supervisor, try working for four, each with extremely different personalities.”
Her next position and the one from which she will retire next month is in the office of the vice president of financial and administrative services.
“I have worked for four different vice presidents,” Reynolds said. “Every day is absolutely different from the previous and not what you planned to do when you arrived at work that day!”
As for fond memories while working at DCC, Reynolds said she had more than a few.
“My first winter working at the college—I had been told that when classes were cancelled for snow, we still had to come to work,” Reynolds said. “To keep me from driving in the pouring snow, my husband dropped me off and went on to work. I checked all of the doors on the building and they were all locked—this was before cell phones—so I had to walk home. Later, I found out that the president had actually closed the college, but after I had left my house.”
She added, “I love the interaction we have with our students. I helped organize a Fallen Firefighters March-a-Thon in September 2001. Several DCC clubs participated in the walk, along with some of the Danville firefighters, walking from the West Main fire station to City Hall. We raised almost $17,000. I also helped organize a March of Dimes team for our employees and students. We walked eight miles in two hours! I helped organize a Jump Rope for Heart team for DCC faculty and staff and I have taken aerobics and yoga after hours with lots of students, some of them young enough to be my grandchildren. At DCC, we dress up for Halloween, along with the students, and have a party in the Student Center. We used to have a faculty-staff softball team and a volleyball team who played against the students. I normally played infield but had to pitch one day and ended up with a black bruise on my leg that lasted for six months.”
Reynolds’ love for baseball came in handy when the college needed an advisor for its new baseball team.
“When the college decided to start a baseball team in 2001, I was asked to be the college sponsor/advisor. Of course I accepted and have been working with the team since,” Reynolds said. “The first year, we started the season with 16 players and, after several injuries, we made it to the VCCS championship game with only 11 and won! We played against a team from Rappahannock Community College, who had 34 players. Butch Thomas, father of one of our pitchers, Brett Thomas, said ‘David has just slayed Goliath!’ Rappahannock had been the champion for several years. I cannot tell you how excited we all were.”
Reynolds said that her love for her job is what has motivated her to come to work every day for nearly 48 years. Her dedication to excellence and professionalism has earned her much recognition through the years, receiving the DCC Outstanding Classified Staff Award and the Virginia Community College System Support Staff Showcase Award.
Of her proudest moments, though, two stand out from the rest.
“I was able to see both of my daughters graduate from DCC and then go on to get their bachelor’s degrees from Longwood University and George Mason University,” Reynolds said.
She added that being recognized in the community and witnessing the impact of DCC has made the experience of working there that much more special.
“I love being out in the community and having a former student from years ago recognize me and ask about the college,” Reynolds said.
When asked what advice she would offer to anyone getting started with their career, Reynolds said to work hard and look for opportunities to grow professionally.
“Be a dedicated employee—don’t look for shortcuts or the easy way out,” she said. “Take advantage of seminars and workshops. Try to learn new things constantly.”
Looking ahead, Reynolds said she trusts DCC will continue to be a key player in shaping the future of the region.
“This college has been such a wonderful opportunity for thousands of young people,” Reynolds said. “I hope it remains a place where area students can find the skills they want and need to get a job in their chosen field or get the general education classes needed to transfer to a four-year university.”
As for herself, Reynolds said she has work to do in preparation for her retirement.
“I had two bucket lists that I have already completed—visiting all 50 states and visiting all of the major league baseball parks,” she said. “Now, I am writing a new list for when I retire.”
Reynolds added that she would cherish the memories she made while she studied and worked at DCC.
“These people here are my family,” Reynolds said. “We have always been there for each other. I am going to miss them.”
Danville Community College is a two-year institution of higher education under the state-wide Virginia Community College System. DCC’s service area includes the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. For more information about the college’s more than 100 programs of study, visit www.danville.edu.