UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Nancy Winter, a longtime Penn State employee and the wizard behind the curtain for Penn State’s Scanning Operations (the unit that processes the “bubble sheet” forms from course exams), has announced her retirement from the University, effective Sept. 30.
Winter’s 37-year career started in July 1978 as a key punch operator in the College of Agricultural Sciences. In 1981, she moved to Mitchell Building and what was then called University Testing Services (UTS) as a scanning operator.
“It’s hard to believe when I started at UTS that we carried tapes and punch cards to the Computer Building to print the instructors’ paper score reports,” said Winter.
Nancy has seen significant changes over the years — advances in scanning technology, office moves, promotions, and a reorganization that merged UTS with other faculty support units to form the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence. She also played an important role in establishing the Pollock Testing Center as a key part of the unit.
Nancy’s dedication to her customers, quest for excellence, and innovative ideas contributed to advancing her to her current position as supervisor of Scanning Operations.
“Nancy can always be counted on to think outside the box and toward the future — all the while considering what’s best for ‘her faculty’,” wrote Angela Linse, executive director and associate dean for teaching excellence for the Schreyer Institute. She added, “Faculty who have taken advantage of the scanning touch screen check-in process have Nancy to thank — she came up with this recommendation long before touch screens were the norm.”
Although Winter could have retired earlier, she selflessly stayed on to oversee Scanning Operations’ transition to a new Scantron scoring system. “I wanted to make sure that everything was OK with the new system and to help instructors with the transition. I didn’t want to feel like I was leaving in the middle of the implementation,” Nancy said.
All who have worked with Nancy will surely miss her helpful and calm demeanor and her expertise with Scanning Operations. One doesn’t have to dig too deep to find accolades for both her service and leadership.
“Folks love and admire good service, but great service with a can-do, willing attitude is somewhat rare these days,” wrote Ed Babcock, instructor of accounting, in an email. Bill Goffe, senior lecturer of economics, described his scanning experience as offering “a wealth of options for faculty,” and he went on to say that, “the center is run very efficiently, and everyone is cheerful and very helpful.”
When prompted for her final thoughts about her Penn State career and dedication to scanning, Winter said, “I want all of the instructors that I’ve worked with over the years to know that I have truly appreciated and enjoyed working with them and that after I retire I’ll miss interacting with them the most.”
Don’t look for Winter to sit idly in her retirement years. She has grandchildren to keep her busy, and given the delectable desserts she has shared with coworkers, don’t be surprised to find her donning a chef’s hat in the future.