The Little Engine that Could: Sylvia Mantilla

Faculty member Sylvia Mantilla is retiring after 38 years at GRCC. She was very active in the faculty union, serving as president for four years and secretary for “years and years.” Although her background is in Medieval Studies, Sylvia was hired to teach developmental writing. Being the division chair for fifteen years, she said she taught many classes that she wasn’t originally hired to teach, including medical terminology. Sylvia’s book choice, The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper, reflects on her childhood home two blocks from the railroad tracks in Nebraska and her years of teaching children’s literature at GRCC. Thank you, Sylvia, for all you’ve done for GRCC and for our students. We wish you well in your retirement.