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I Spy: Casey Keck goes above and beyond

by Mazzei

You might find Casey Keck covered with glue and glitter at the Coastal Carolina Kids Camp, or you might find her helping a colleague learn a difficult data program. A support staff member for the Division of Academic Outreach at Coastal Carolina University, Keck has many opportunities to interact with older, nontraditional and noncredit-seeking students, and she does it with ease and grace.

Kelli Barker, director of operations at the Myrtle Beach Education Center and Keck’s supervisor, tells the story of a couple who came to register for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) classes at the 79th Avenue location. “When we offered to help register them, they said, ‘That’s ok, we’d rather have Casey register us,’” Barker says; they then drove the extra 14 miles to the Conway campus.

OLLI, an Academic Outreach program that provides learning opportunities for usually older adults to achieve intellectual stimulation as well as social growth and a mutually beneficial relationship with the University. Classes range from history to watercolors, knitting and even belly dancing, among others.

You’ll hear words like “conscientious,” “professional,” “upbeat” and “kind to whomever crosses her path” when Keck’s name is mentioned.

“She was just a gift from heaven,” says Barker. “She treats students like they are the main focus,” Barker said. “ On a monthly basis, people tell me how Casey goes way above and beyond the call of duty for the students and her colleagues.”

Keck is from Pittsburgh, Penn., and attended Clarion University; she took her final class at CCU to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology. She previously worked as a certified pharmacy technician at Conway Hospital, the Friendship Medical Clinic and Walgreens. In 2003, she worked at Pepsi Cola in Conway in an administrative position and later as the information systems manager.

Ellen Jampole, who works as office support at the Division of Academic Outreach, nominated Keck for “I Spy” after training with her and watching her go the extra mile for every student. Jampole says Keck provided positive criticism and “bent over backwards” to help her learn the difficult data programs. “She never made me feel badly when I made a mistake,” says Jampole.

An average day for Keck depends on the season. During the school terms, she works with the OLLI classes and in the summer with the kids’ camps. For academic outreach, she sets up classrooms and assists instructors. Summertime with the kids’ camps might mean “ a lot of glue and glitter,” but she is up for anything

Keck has been at CCU for two and half years. Her favorite thing about working at CCU is the students and watching Coastal grow.

“While most colleges are scaling back, Coastal continues expanding and expanding programs,” she says.

Keck smiles most when talking about her family. They include her husband of 14 years, Ree Boyd, her nine-year-old son Nick, Scooter the dog, Monkey the cat and Drago their blind cat, adopted from the animal shelter. She spends her free time with her family doing activities around the community, and her family attends an art class at the Burroughs & Chapin Art Museum.

Despite her interesting career path, Keck says the “best thing” that has happened to her was coming to CCU and working with Kelli Barker!" 

“I Spy” is an employee recognition program of CCU’s Department of Training and Development. To nominate someone, go to the Training and Development page and click on the “I Spy” button.

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