Ruth Savage

SMC Staff

“If you know the place you want to go, I’ve got the ticket.”

Ruth Savage has a study group leaving for England Thursday morning. “And all those last minute details are happening,” she says breathlessly.

Coming up on 15 years at SMC, Ruth was Instructional Materials Coordinator at the Media Center for 6 years. But her current role, coordinating Study Abroad programs, seems perfect for the competence and enthusiasm by which she’s known. “I’ve had fun wherever I’ve worked,” says Ruth. “I love helping people accomplish what they want to do.”

Ruth’s job is part travel agent, part counselor and all satisfaction. “A lot of people at SMC are involved putting our programs together,” says Ruth. “Dot Gelvin coordinates the effort. Then the teachers come up with these great ideas. And the administration encourages new kinds of exploration.” It’s then Ruth’s job to take care of “the nuts and bolts” work.

Ruth sees a lot of change happen in people as the result of Study Abroad. “It’s fun to see them when they come back. They experience things they never thought they could do,” says Ruth. “And they come back much more poised. There was one student,” she continues, “who was the perfect ‘beach boy’ type. He got turned on to learning in his travels and transferred to Berkeley. In this job, you get to see that kind of transformation.”

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