Bonnie Bingham wears many hats as the office manager in the Office of Digital Humanities. Digital Humanities is one of the most functionally diverse units on campus, with responsibilities for technology support, web development, pedagogical support, facilities management, research support, server administration, and the digital humanities minor. Despite the stresses of many competing responsibilities, Bonnie fills her role with such efficiency and apparent effortlessness that her contributions are easily overlooked.
Not only does Bonnie facilitate smooth operation and communication between so many moving parts, she also is individually responsible for administering Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services (FLATS) – to our knowledge the largest service in the country allowing students to receive college credit for foreign language proficiency. To do this, Bonnie hires and trains a diverse team of competent students to facilitate registration, proctoring, and reporting of tests. This service raises the profile of Brigham Young University as a major center of foreign language expertise and provides an essential service to students across the nation.
Bonnie exemplifies respect and belonging for all individuals by her kind and gracious manner to everyone that enters our office. She deliberately hires a diverse group of students to administer FLATS, and the warmth and friendliness they exude is clear evidence of Bonnie’s concerted efforts to foster a healthy, supportive work environment. Her employees are well-trained, communicate well as a team, and have merit-based opportunities for increased responsibilities. Not only do the students feel respected and part of a team, but they also radiate the same feelings of respect and belonging to coworkers, clients, faculty, staff, and other students.
Despite a truly head-spinning variety of disparate functions performed every day in our office, Bonnie’s responsible use of sacred resources has managed to keep the Office of Digital Humanities off the compliance report for years. Not only is this evidence of exceptional attention to detail and an uncanny ability to adapt to frequent policy changes, but it also evinces a knack for clear communication and anticipation of potential problems. Bonnie’s dedication to keeping our entire office in compliance with established policies “without sacrificing a warm, familial atmosphere” is an admirable achievement that deserves recognition and emulation.