By Ella Prazer
After 29 years at Puget Sound, Barbara Racine, Director of the campus Bookstore, was recognized for her hard work and dedication to higher education with an Aspen Award, a lifetime achievement award given out by the National Association of College Stores (NACS).
Earlier this month, Racine was honored at the annual Campus Market Expo (CAMEX) education and trade show event in Salt Lake City. CAMEX is the largest trade show in the country, and boasts representation from over 4,000 college campuses.
“I was totally surprised,” Racine said in regard to receiving this lifetime achievement award. “I thought my colleague was calling to ask my opinion on potential candidates for the award. It was never on my radar that I could be a candidate.”
According to the NACS website, “The NACS Education Committee has created The AspenAward to recognize a professional in the collegiate retailing industry who has made continuous, notable contributions to the education and professional development efforts … and actualized the advancement of the industry through learning endeavors.”
The award recognizes professionals that have dedicated themselves to “raising the level of professional practice” in collegiate retail, committed to professional development and mentorship and “provided leadership and/or notable contribution to NACS educational programs, products, or services,” the NACS website states.
One part of accepting the Aspen Award is a speech given at the CAMEX event in front of the attendees. “One of the scariest things I’ve ever done is get up on stage in front of a couple of thousand colleagues to accept that award,” Racine said.
Racine has been involved with the NACS Education Committee and CAMEX program committee for five years, including a year spent as the NACS Education Committee chair. Racine also served as the President of the Northwest College Bookstore Association in 2006 and has been involved in numerous other committees and organizations. “Volunteering is outside of my comfort zone,” Racine is quoted on the NACS website, “but it’s so rewarding I push myself.” “Working in a college store was my first job out of college,” Racine said.
After receiving her Master’s degree in Educational Administration, Racine “was actually offered a job as Dean of Students at a small college in West Virginia! As I thought about it, I realized I really enjoyed working in the college store and began focusing on that as my career,” she said.
As the Director of the Bookstore, Racine said much of her time is spent on “keeping up with all of the changes in course materials.” One of her main objectives is keeping textbooks and supplies as affordable as possible for students, which is not always easy considering the materials she needs to provide.
Through these challenges, though, Racine said she “enjoy[s] interacting with the campus community. Our students are so engaging and their enthusiasm keeps [her] young at heart.” “I’ve been lucky enough to meet many interesting authors while selling their books at lectures,” Racine said. “I’m a book person so this has been a real perk of the job for me.” Fortunately, Racine’s dedication and hard work has not gone unnoticed. According to a press release from the University, the 2017-18 NACS board president Loreen J. Maxfield said, “We are all better for knowing, and volunteering and working with Barbara, and NACS is a better organization because of her generous commitment and leadership.”
When asked if she had any advice for Puget Sound students, Racine said, “[Her father] always said that, no matter what job you have, keep learning. Be curious about the world and challenge yourself to do things outside your comfort zone. Try to “give back” somehow.”