From left, Phyllis Wooster of the President's Office, Rose Wesolowski of Career Development, Sue Pasquino of Student Academic Services and Barbara Ritola of the Provost's Office attended the International Association of Administrative Professionals Convention and Education Forum held in Washington, D.C. last summer.

"It's not just a job; it's a career." That's how Sue Pasquino of Student Academic Services describes her role as an assistant to the dean of Enrollment Management. "Some people may look at the work we do as purely secretarial," said Pasquino, president of the MSU chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (MSU IAAP), "but it's more than that."

Computer wizards, software experts and professional multi-taskers may be better descriptions for these Jacks and Jills of all trades. "Our work is not just clerical," she said. "We do so much more than push papers."

Nearly 30 Montclair State employees are members of the MSU IAAP, the only on-campus chapter in the state and one of two worldwide. The chapter was formed 2 1/2 years ago through the initiation of Phyllis Wooster of the President's Office, who's been involved in the group's North Jersey chapter since 1998 and is serving as its president-elect.

IAAP's value statement, 'turning jobs into careers,' is an ideology Wooster can relate to as a 30-year veteran who's worked in several offices at Montclair State. "So much has changed with the type of work we do, both here at the university level and in the business world," she said. "Being part of IAAP helps me stay connected to what's going on in the rest of the world. It's given me the chance to meet and learn from people in all types of business."

This summer, Wooster, Pasquino, and fellow MSU chapter members Barbara Ritola of the Provost's Office and Rose Wesolowski of Career Development attended the IAAP's 59th International Convention and Education Forum in Washington, D.C. More than 2,200 members attended the four-day conference that attracted participants from all over the world including Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. The event offered a variety of workshops, lectures and networking opportunities.

"It was quite an experience," Wesolowski said. "It was a learning experience as well as a great networking opportunity. Classes were held in professional and personal development, new ideas were exchanged and new friendships were made." This summer the MSU chapter will sponsor, along with the Morris County chapter, the New Jersey Division's annual meeting.

"Being part of IAAP gives us a chance to support each other in the work we do," Pasquino said. "Over the years, the role of administrative assistants has evolved so much. We must keep current with business trends and network with other professionals in our field." Pasquino said supervisors should encourage their assistants to join professional organizations such as the IAAP, as her supervisor, Reginald Ross, does. "Suzanne's involvement in the IAAP is clear evidence of being a team player with an eye toward professional development," he said.

The benefits of being involved in a professional organization go beyond networking and educational opportunities. Wooster described it as "an opportunity to stretch yourself. You get to do things within the association, such as strategic and event planning, that you may not get to do in your job," she explained, "but you get to do it in a safe, supportive environment. And doing that helps build self-confidence so members come back to their jobs and think, 'Hey, I can do that.' We discover talents we never knew we had."

Stephanie Wood of Broadcasting, president-elect of the MSU chapter, is proof of the kind of personal and professional development IAAP members gain."It's brought me out of my shell, encouraging me to interact and network more with my colleagues," she said. "I'm now working with people I had never met before."

While the individual members of IAAP may be raising the bar for themselves, they also are collectively helping to change a mindset. "The traditional secretary is often stereotyped," Wooster said, adding that television and movies perpetuate society's view of the job. "Many people don't realize that in today's world, it can be a career--a very rewarding career."