interview

I discovered while interviewing Donna Phillip, that the privilege was all mine. Donna has a warm and welcoming personality. Her personal history sounded like a storybook come to life. Donna works at the Jefferson City Public Library, in Jefferson County as the Assistant Director. This position wasn’t just handed to her. Donna was passed over twice but on the third attempt she landed the job. In thirteen years Donna has more than proven her worth.

         The drive to keep pushing started as a child. She had six siblings and understood that college would not be an option for her. Milking cows was the job of this country girl and that job placed her in the dairy in 1987 where she met her husband. The two were married in January 1988. Three babies later, two daughters and one son, all under the age of four Donna decided to go back to school.

        She was going to be a computer programmer. Many people told Donna she wasn’t going to accomplish her educational goal. She graduated with honors, Phi Beta Cape, in two years from Walter State with a computer science degree.  Donna would never bring coursework home. She would complete all her assignments on campus. She wanted her family to always be first when she was at home. After graduating, Donna discovered her son had special needs. That’s when this devoted and loving mother searched for help at the local public library where she found the resources. 

        A substitute position opened at the library and that was when she got her foot in the door. In 2001 after her husband lost his job, she once again applied for the assistant Directors position. Donna was turned down for the second time; nevertheless, Donna would not tell the Library Director that her family was under financial stress. She wanted the position but wanted to earn the title on her work merits. On October 1^st 2001 she was placed in the Assistant Director position.

       Donna’s high ethical standards have made the director proud of her decision. She still believes that “if a job needs to be done you do it” and a large part of Donna’s highlights of the job is getting to help her customers find help. In closing, Donna shared her faith with me during this interview, the root of all her strengths and believes, “God puts you where He needs us to be”.