Marcia Thomson is all about dedication, whether it's getting up religiously at 5:30 a.m. each weekday to jog two-and-a-half miles or devoting more than 30 years to the UC Davis Academic Senate.
But when she first moved to Davis from the Bay Area in 1967 after her husband's job transfer, Thomson was hardly looking to dedicate herself to the campus government.
"I didn't even know what the Academic Senate was," she says. "But I needed a job and I thought the university would be a good place because I wanted to live and work in the same town."
Thomson was hired in July of 1968 as a secretary/stenographer and has been with the senate ever since. She became the management services officer in 1980.
The Academic Senate is part of the campus's joint governance system, along with the administration. Membership numbers about 2,200 faculty members, including ladder-rank professors from all disciplines and lecturers with security of employment. The group is chaired by Bruce Madewell, a professor of veterinary medicine.
The senate has been given authority by the UC regents to oversee courses, curricula, admissions and the awarding of degrees. The organization and its 30 committees also advise the administration on other issues of importance, such as the budget and the appointment and promotion of Academic Senate members.
Thomson has taken on increasing responsibility in the senate throughout the years. She serves as supervisor and manager of the Academic Senate office and as executive assistant to the chair. She also gives staff support to five committees.
One of her most important duties, she says, is her position with the Committee on Committees. The elected body is responsible for appointing members for all other senate committees.
Thomson also has been an active member of UC Davis' Quarter Century Club, made up of campus employees who have 25 or more years of service under their belts.
But those responsibilities will end soon. Thomson plans to retire at the beginning of March. "My husband is retired and has been for six years," she said, "and I will be 60 years old. I think it's a good time."
Although she will no longer be giving her time to the Academic Senate, Thomson plans to continue her jogging schedule, which she has maintained for 23 years, though she says she will allow herself to wake up at a more reasonable hour once she has no job to worry about.
"I look forward to not going at 5:30 anymore," she adds with a laugh.
What is the biggest issue currently facing the Academic Senate?
The budget is at the top of every department's list, but another big issue is the discussion of year-round campus operation. If the university goes to year-round instruction, there will be problems with continuity on Academic Senate committees and a lot of issues that need to be resolved.
What is something others might find surprising about you?
I used to love motorcycle riding in the early '80s when my husband owned a Suzuki. We rode around Tahoe and the wine country. The farthest we ever went was to Yellowstone National Park.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Wine-tasting: it's one of our favorite things to do. My husband and I often go to the Napa/Sonoma area. My favorite wine is a chardonnay by Artesa, a Napa label.
What are your retirement plans?
My husband and I have a place up at Lake Tahoe and I want to spend more time up there. We also have two grandchildren and another one on the way in Dixon, and I'd like to spend more time with them. My husband and I would also like to travel and see more of the United States than we've seen. I'd like to visit the East Coast and the southern states.
What are your most treasured possessions?
My family and friends. Material things can be replaced. I have a daughter who works in undergraduate admissions and a married son who works for a bank in Sacramento.
What is your favorite spot on campus?
The Rec Hall. We're avid Aggie Basketball fans. We've been season ticket holders since before the Rec Hall even existed; we used to go to games at Hickey Gym.
What are your hobbies?
I belong to a gourmet cooking club. I love to cook, although unfortunately I also like to eat what I cook. I sew, too, every once in a while. I intend to do it more once I retire, especially knitting. I want to knit a baby blanket for my soon-to-arrive grandchild; after an ultrasound in a couple weeks, I'll know what color of yarn to pick out. I also enjoy bike-riding and sun bathing at Lake Tahoe.
If you would have three wishes, what would they be?
Season tickets to Sacramento Kings games, a new house on the lake at Tahoe and, most important, to stay healthy so I can enjoy a long retirement. •