by Veronica L. McClendon
Staff Writer
A new face has begun patrolling the grounds of the university. Nancy Stark is the first female security staff member in the history of the University of La Verne.
Stark began working at the University in February. She just completed training March 15.
“I feel qualified to work here, I have good personal record and a lot of past experience,” said Stark.
Out of 25 other applicants, Stark feels that she was hired because of her “prior secret clearance for the Department of Defense, my good personal relations with people and my ability to care because it matters to me how people feel,” said Stark.
What interested her most about doing security work is she gets the chance to work with different kinds of people. The cultural experience she has received helps her understand different people of different avenues.
Stark has worked in many places. Prior to her job here at La Verne she worked for the Burns International Secret Service. She was a subcontractor with Lockeed Martin Aircraft Service of Ontario. Due to Lockeed being a top secret facility she is not allowed to speak of her duties.
She also worked at the Chino prison for about 10 years. “I was basically a Search and Escort Patroller.” She took wounded prisoners to hospitals after being stabbed in prison fights and she also escorted prisoners to the hole, a term they use to define solitary confinement. While working at the prison she carried no weapons.
In between jobs she worked at General Dynamics and when they sold the company to Hughes everyone was displaced.
After being laid off Stark began receiving unemployment in order to survive. To continue receiving unemployment she had to go back to school and change her career path.
Stark attended Northwest Medical College in West Covina. She received her certificate as a Medical Computer Specialist. She also attended Mt. San Antonio College over a period of eight years trying to find her niche.
The reason she never received an associate’s degree is because she wanted to gain experience. Stark was also having a hard time dedicating herself to school because she was a single parent raising her daughter.
Stark has been doing security work over the last three years since working at the Chino prison.
Stark’s job at ULV will be patrolling the facility and being of service to students and staff. Unlocking doors, responding to calls, and doing rounds are some of her duties.
She is also certified in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid if students happen to need that kind of service.
According to Stark, the security staff is “very friendly and helpful and very pleasant to work with.”
So far she has not encountered any difficulties at La Verne. She said that everyone has been nice.
When Stark was 18, she worked as a secretary at Cal Poly. She was a secretary to the dean of students for a landscaping design. This was the only other college campus that Stark worked at.
Living alone, her two cats are her only source of comfort when she gets home. She enjoys playing with them. One is named Psycho, whom she has had for two years, and the other is named Swannee, whom she had for 10 years.
Stark is originally from Detroit, but she has lived in Pomona since 1962. She has two brothers and two sisters of which she is the second oldest child.
In her spare time she enjoys reading mystery novels, going horseback riding and dancing.
She is heavily involved in dart tournaments which she engages in every Thursday night.
According to Stark, La Verne has, “really good and friendly people here. It is a very different atmosphere compared to what I am used to.”
Veronica L. McClendon
