Credit Where Credit is Due

Twelve years ago, York College needed someone to tackle the unknowns of remote classrooms and help us launch into the world of distance learning. We turned to Dr. Jackie (Hance ’59) Humphrey, a retired educator and nursing facility administrator. In fact, Jackie and her husband Joe, also a recent retiree as a university accounting professor, both volunteered their time to move to York in 2009 and teach as visiting professors. Jackie’s main task, however, was to coordinate YC’s new online learning program and get it off the ground.

(left) Joe and Jackie met as students on the YC campus in 1957.

Jackie was named 2014 Alumna of the Year.

"I relate to non-traditional students. My own life space has been fragmented,” Humphrey said in a 2010 interview. “I didn’t go from high school to college to career. Instead, I went from high school to a year at college to a couple of jobs to being a full-time mom and foster mom. I ran an at-home “daycare” back when it was called babysitting and fit in undergraduate studies around it all. After many starts and stops, I received a degree in special education.”

Humphrey began constructing York’s online program from scratch, learning as she went.

“I’m not a ‘techie’ but because of my work in health care administration, I witnessed constantly evolving needs for new skills and training,” she said. “And health care is only one dimension in a world of rapidly changing needs and opportunities. Regardless of our response, the world is changing. Online learning is one response with potential to meet many needs in a Christian context.”

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Dr. Jackie Humphrey with York College's first Master's graduates in 2015.

Those words from more than a decade ago still ring true today as YC Online continues to evolve and meet the needs of our growing constituency. The program grew quickly in the beginning from offering a few pilot courses to complete bachelor degrees online to master degrees, all in the span of four years.

Humphrey completed her volunteer assignment and she and Joe moved back to Texas, but she wasn’t done with online learning. One guess as to who recently retired… again, but this time as a virtual York College professor?

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Jackie served as a YC Trustee five years (2012-2016).

A round of applause for Dr. Jackie Humphrey who has been a part of YC Online from its inception and just turned in her final grades for GRS 5341 Navigating in a Diverse Society. She reports that, "this last class was one of the largest and most rewarding to teach," which seems like the perfect finale to go out on.

“The future for the online program is great and I'm very impressed with the large number of faculty that Shannon (Leinen) and Kirk (Mallette) have recruited,” Humphrey said. “I love the mission of York College and pray God's blessings on all who serve Him there.”

Enjoy your latest retirement, Jackie. You’ve earned it and then some.

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