Years of Dedication: Soynia Gilliam

In her 34 years at Elgin Community College, Soynia Gilliam has held a few different roles before landing in her current position as a clerical assistant. She began as a part-time employee on the Foundation Square campus, working in the KDK program, before it became TRiO Upward Bound, and quickly discovered how much she loved working closely with students. 

“I had been working at the DMV, but took a few classes here before I started tutoring a bit,” Gilliam said. “I was so nervous on my first day, I didn’t really know what I was stepping into.” 

When the Foundation Square campus closed, Gilliam was shifted under the tutoring umbrella, where she focused on tutoring students enrolled in ESL and GED courses.  

“I was young when I started here, so I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Gilliam said. “I knew I enjoyed what I was doing here.” 

Clark Hallpike encouraged her to stay during her times of doubt. “He would say, ‘Soynia, this is the place. You can learn from ECC.’ And you know what? He was so right, and here I am still.”  

Amongst so many changes she has seen to the campus and enrollment growth, Gilliam said the diversity of the student population is what she enjoys the most. “I love working with students. I love learning about their backgrounds and lifestyles,” Gilliam said. 

When asked for a bit of advice for new employees, Gilliam said to keep an open mind. “Every day is different. You never know what student you will meet or employee you will interact with. We learn something new every day.”