On any given day at the Northeast Community College campus in Norfolk, you can walk by Room 138 in the Maclay building and see Melissa O’Connor in her office helping students and faculty. As the Business and Technology Executive Assistant at Northeast, O’Connor enjoys the wide variety of tasks she fulfills and the people she gets to interact with on a daily basis. “I always saw myself as a customer service type person that always has to be people oriented,” O’Connor said.

Raised in Hoskins, NE, O’Connor has always loved small town living. She graduated from Winside High School and started college at Northeast the following fall. Upon graduating from Northeast, she decided to accept a job from the college and begin her family and career in Norfolk. “I didn’t ever think of moving on to a bigger town. I like the small town that Norfolk has to offer and I felt this was the best place to raise my family and start my life.”

Now married with two daughters, O’Connor is expecting her third child in January. Raising a family while working as the business and technology executive assistant at Northeast presents its challenges but also provides opportunity. “It’s definitely a struggle but just knowing that at the end of the day that I get to go home and see them and knowing that I am able to provide for my family makes it all worthwhile.”

O’Connor has a wide variety of skills making her a popular person to talk to for people who need help with things like class scheduling, appointment setting, or just some advice. She is certified in Microsoft Office and her top skills include data entry, administrative, research, leadership and curriculum development, and event planning. “I enjoy being able to use a variety of skills to match the flexibility of having such a multitasking type of job.”

Whether a student has a scheduling issue or needs to set an appointment with the dean or an adviser, Mrs. O’Connor is happy to help. She is quick to greet everyone with an enthusiastic smile and a sincerity in her voice that lets people know she is there for them.