Longtime Libraries’ Employee Bonny Boyan Retires
With over 30 years of serving the WSU Libraries, Bonny Boyan said she especially enjoyed conducting new employee orientations and getting to know all the staff, faculty, and student employees who joined the libraries in that time.
“It was a pleasure to see their excitement over starting a new job and to provide them with the information they needed,” she said. “There are only five current employees who have been working here in the libraries longer than I have, so I feel like I know everyone. I will truly miss visiting with everyone, especially my amazing colleagues in the Library Administrative Office.”
Boyan’s last day at the libraries was Oct. 18, celebrated with a retirement reception that drew both current and past library employees and friends.
“Although I’ve only served as interim dean since May, on a daily basis I’ve appreciated Bonny’s advice and her concern for fairness in all administrative matters,” said Trevor Bond. “The joy she finds in her work and her support of everyone are inspiring and infectious.”
After working in two other campus departments for five years, Boyan transferred to the Library Administrative Office on Aug, 25, 1994, the day of the “New Library” dedication. In 2002, she became the libraries’ human resource coordinator. In 2022, she took on additional responsibilities as the assistant to the dean.
In the early days, Boyan prepared timecards for each of the more than 80 student employees and delivered them to each unit supervisor during each pay period. After she collected all the completed timecards, she transferred the hours onto paper “scantron” sheets by filling in little bubbles with a No. 2 pencil, then hand-delivered them to the Payroll Office in French Administration. Over the past 30 years, Boyan ran the library payroll processes 719 times.
“It was a big job that took several days twice each month,” she said. “Thankfully, the scantron bubble sheets were discontinued over time, but payroll was still a tedious job until the implementation of Workday.”
Boyan was very involved in the campus-wide change to Workday and enjoyed the collaborative processes implemented to get it launched, she said. Although it was not without its challenges—including “a little blip in the timeline called COVID-19” right as planners were beginning to make progress—the eventual implementation of Workday in December 2020 greatly improved payroll and many other processes.
“We’re still working out some kinks, it seems, but Workday is great most of the time, and I’m grateful to have played a role in its success,” she said.
For decades, Boyan supported all library search committees, ensuring that they followed all guidelines and fair, equitable practices. She communicated with all candidates and immediately notified eliminated applicants. She also provided excellent information for new hires moving to the Palouse.
“She knows everyone who works for the library, now 120 students, faculty, and staff,” Bond said. “For all new employees, Bonny was the warm and friendly first introduction to the libraries. She was a responsive, knowledgeable colleague, who either knew the answer to any pay or benefit question or exactly how to find it. She always stopped to say hello and lend assistance.”
The larger university community honored Boyan’s dedication to the libraries during the 2023 Showcase. She received the President’s Employee Excellence Award, given to administrative professional and classified employees to recognize outstanding contributions to WSU by employees statewide.
In retirement, Boyan and her husband Chris, retired director of WSU Transportation Services, with their golden retriever Shyla, plan to travel this winter in their Sprinter Camper Van to visit all their family and friends who live in warmer climates. They also purchased a lifetime America the Beautiful Pass for entrance to all national parks when they hit the road to explore more of the country.
“I am looking forward to a slower pace of life with more time for taking walks, gardening, shopping, cooking, and, most importantly, more time with family and friends.”