Aces of Trades: Joy Cronin loves a good challenge

Drew Bracken
·3 min read
Joy Cronin is the academic operations coordinator at Muskingum University. She works closely with faculity at the university, and considers them family.
Joy Cronin is the academic operations coordinator at Muskingum University. She works closely with faculity at the university, and considers them family.

NEW CONCORD – Her career didn’t go where she expected – but she’s fine with that.

“I grew up on a farm just outside of New Concord,” recalled Joy Cronin. “I sang at loads of events when I was in high school. During the summer months, I worked at the Dairy Duchess and dreamed of being a singer.”

Well, today Cronin is the academic operations coordinator at Muskingum University.

“I manage the provost office,” she explained. “I take minutes at faculty meetings. I update the academic affairs website. I maintain faculty files. I maintain the provost’s calendar. I work very closely with faculty. They’re like my family and I feel comfortable and supported in this role.”

Cronin graduated from John Glenn High School in 1983, then attended Muskingum College (now University) in 1983-1984. “But,” she noted, “I left to live life.” She came back to Muskingum to complete her undergraduate degree in 2004, then earned a master’s in adult education in 2010.

“I began working at Muskingum in 1995,” she said. “I started as the administrative assistant in the religion department. I absolutely enjoyed learning and working with the faculty. I found myself growing in ways I couldn’t imagine. I really enjoyed the work I was doing.

“Computers were just beginning to be used in offices,” she added. “It was a challenge to learn how to use them, but I love a good challenge. I also began taking classes at Muskingum around this time. It really expanded my view of the world. I always knew if I could get a position at Muskingum, I could complete my degree and that was a goal I wanted to achieve.”

Before her time at Muskingum, Cronin worked at various jobs.

“I was looking for the correct path,” she said. “I tried a little of everything: funeral home administrative assistant, bank teller, dental assistant, office manager. Out of all those things, I enjoyed office work the best. That’s what led me to Muskingum.”

Dr. Nancy Evangelista is the provost at Muskingum University.

“Joy Cronin is a cornerstone of academic operations at Muskingum University,” assessed Evangelista. “A two-time graduate of Muskingum, she knows the people and traditions of the university, while continually identifying improvements in processes or using new technologies. Our office is graced by her warm smile that makes everyone feel welcome and is the foundation for her positive working relationships across campus.”

“I love what I do,” Cronin responded. “It does get busy and stressful at times, but I do it because these folks are important to me, and I want to be a support for each of them.”

And does she still sing?

“I sing in church,” she said.

For more information about Muskingum University, log on www.muskingum.edu.

Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at trnews@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Joy Cronin loves a good challenge