Yavapai College Registrar and  Director of Enrollment Services Sheila Jarrell is a careful, measured and meticulous person. That’s a great set of traits to possess, given her role. She is responsible for admissions (including for international students), registration, records, degree verifications and Commencement ceremonies, among others.

“I feel very lucky to be at the core of the student's career at the college,” Jarrell said. “I like to remove barriers, solve problems, and keep things simple because the students deserve that. We shouldn't be complicated. I want enrollment to be welcoming for them and not scary. I don't want people to feel out of place. I want them to feel that this is where they should be.”

Jarrell’s own academic path took a meandering route: she enrolled in a community college after graduating high school, but a sense of self-reliance took hold, and she quit after a year to take a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After a year of working and saving money, she enrolled in Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota.

She then attended Northern Arizona University for a time. When her husband took a job in law enforcement, they moved to Bagdad, Arizona. Jarrell started taking some Yavapai College courses there.

“I took classes via telecourse back then,” Jarrell said. “A lot of classes were taught in Bagdad for years, because the copper mine (currently operated by Freeport-McMoRan) had a thriving community. Ken Meyer, who taught Western Civ here back in the 80s and 90s, would record for me a class, wrap it up, send it down to me, and I'd listen to the recording.”

She completed her two-year degree and started working part-time for Yavapai College in Bagdad as a coordinator. In 1995, Jarrell’s husband was transferred to Prescott, and she began working at the Prescott campus. A year later, she was on full-time status. Along the way, she obtained her associate degree and earned a Bachelor of Science in Individualized Studies followed by a Master of Education in Counseling-Human Relations. She became Registrar in 2009.

“You know, it's a perfect job for me because there's a lot of detail,” Jarrell said. “There are big picture elements. And there is always change. I can either spend a lot of time on a project or be interrupted all day long. Both things work for me. I probably couldn't find a better career job.”

For Jarrell, the importance of the work that she does is to maintain the integrity of Yavapai College for the students and the staff and to ensure that all collected data is accurate. An example of the importance of data maintenance is reflected in the student-based reports that are sent to the state for funding.

“That's really important for the college, and for our reputation,” Jarrell said. “We’re very careful with confidentiality. I want students to have confidence that when they give us their personal information, that we protect that, just like we would want someone to protect our own. I'm very careful about that, and I like that we are a community of thoughtful people.  We're important for the student, but we're also important for the school.”

Jarrell finds that in her role at Yavapai College the biggest challenge is simultaneously her biggest success. She said that maintaining integrity and efficiency with a small staff and increased student numbers and responsibilities is critical, especially given the introduction of bachelor's degree programs in recent years. Despite the immensity of the responsibilities, Jarrell and her team ensure that things run smoothly.

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.