Teaching & Troubleshooting: Delcourt Retiring After Nearly 15 Years at Blackhawk

What is your name and role at Blackhawk Technical College? How long have you worked here?

Cynthia Delcourt, Teaching & Learning Specialist – I’ve been at Blackhawk Technical College for 14+ years…where does the time go?

What was your journey to this role? Where did you go to school? What did you study?

That is a long and winding road!  Not having started college until my mid-30s, once I started, I couldn’t stop!  I moved to Wisconsin in 1991 and shortly after that, started at Madison College before transferring to UW-Madison and receiving a B.A. in Linguistics. After many turns on life’s road, I ended up back in Maine and obtained a.A.S. in Computer Technology, then moved back to Wisconsin and obtained an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Experiential Education through an online program at Ferris State University. I then received a Wisconsin Teacher Certification and a graduate certificate in Online Teaching from U.W. Stout.

Is there something that drew you to this career?

On the one hand, I like to puzzle things out and there’s no end to troubleshooting and researching when it comes to technology. On the other hand, I love the teaching aspect of the job. Our faculty work so hard as it is, if I can make a daunting task easier and more streamlined and they end up really seeing a benefit to what they’ve learned, then it’s a good day!

What have you liked most about working at Blackhawk?

I like that I’ve been able to contribute to the mission of this College. I like that, in some small way, I’ve supported the incredible students who choose to enhance their lives by pursuing their education here.

What would you consider the biggest change in your field during your time at Blackhawk?

The upheaval of education as a result of COVID.  Specifically, at Blackhawk, the leap to the MyEdChoice modality.

What advice would you give somebody who’s just starting out at Blackhawk?

You’re going to learn the skills relative to your job, take the time to build the relationships.

What are you most proud of being a part of in your time at Blackhawk?

a.    Building authentic relationships with faculty and staff

b.    Despite my grassroots approach, becoming an effective and knowledgeable Blackboard Administrator

c.    Facilitating the Blackboard Upgrade to UBN and being a part of the transition to Ultra course view in line with the College’s Mission of providing a flexible education in a supportive environment.

d.    Being a part of the IDEA committee as we have worked to shift the ethos of BTC’s community to a more inclusive environment.

What will you miss most about Blackhawk?

I’ve been very fortunate to work closely with great people in CITL and throughout the college over the years. I will miss the camaraderie and support of the day-to-day in CITL.

Looking back on your career, is there anything you would have done differently?

My ‘career’ took as long a winding road as my education path. I have many interests, so anything I may have done differently is not due to lack of interest in the choices I made but because there are so many things I also would have loved to pursue.

Do you have any plans for retirement?

Nothing specific at this time beyond taking time to come back to myself and opening myself up to the next adventure.

What is your life like outside of work? Family? Community involvement? Adorable pets?

I love crafting and, most recently, I have taught myself how to weave. With the extra time, I look forward to spending more time with family and friends and getting involved in community work, including teaching Tai Chi/Qigong again. Currently, I don’t have any pets.

Tell us something about yourself you think people would be surprised to know.

I took hang-glider lessons in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

If you had to pick one season to live in all year round, which season would you choose?

If I had to choose, it would be Autumn.

What is your favorite quote?

“No mud, no lotus” - Thich Nhat Hanh

What was your first job?

I was a server at a community college’s summer programs in Maine – it wasn’t pretty!

Do you play any musical instruments?

Violin, harp, some piano and cello – tinker of many, master of none.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Michelle Yeoh (I flatter myself!)

Who is your favorite Muppet?

Ms. Piggy – I like her spunk!

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, which food would you pick?

Salmon

What/who is your favorite book or author?

“The Way of the Boddhisattva” by Shantideva (Translated by Padmakara Translation Group)

If you could learn any language, which one would you choose?

Tagalog (my mother’s first language)

What is your dream vacation destination?

Dark sky locations to view the cosmos

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Bask in the northern lights

Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met? Tell us the story of how you met.

I was participating in the 1993 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago and met His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  Of course, it was only a brief handshake, but I was most taken by the unassuming, down-to-earth connections he made with anyone he passed by (much to the chagrin of his guards).