Deanna Thomas, a 32-year Michigan State University employee, has traveled to nearly every corner of campus during her career.
Thomas, who is currently the administrative assistant in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship and Personnel in the College of Arts and Letters, has been in almost every building and she has talked to hundreds of Spartans, including men’s head basketball coach Tom Izzo and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon.
But it wasn't until last fall that she stepped inside Spartan Stadium.
"My husband couldn’t believe that after all these years - 32 years - I hadn't gone to a football game," Thomas said. "So we went. I got us tickets and we worked the College of Arts and Letters homecoming tent.
"We just had a ball."
Thomas joined the staff in 1980 and began working in the pharmacy at Olin Health Center. Since then she's held various positions in numerous departments, but she says she really enjoys working in the College of Arts and Letters managing its research office.
"It's a good place to be," she said. "Dean (Karin) Wurst is great to work for; associate dean (David) Presto is wonderful."
In 32 years, she's seen campus change and grow.
"More buildings have been built; I think the networking has improved," she said. She also noticed a change in the amount of campus construction and available sidewalks.
And she expects more changes to come in the future, including changes in her own world.
"I would like to just keep taking classes and courses (in my field) to better myself," she said.
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