As college students, our time on this campus is very short. We only get a few years before this era of our lives becomes a memory. However, there are some members of the Stevens community for whom their “college” experience has been going strong for several decades. Donna Bracey and her sister Linda Sanchez have been vital members of our campus for many years, and The Stute has had the opportunity to interview them to learn more about their time here, how the university and its students have evolved, and what they look forward to in the future.
Bracey started her time at Stevens on September 2, 1983, and her sister Sanchez joined about three years later on May 5, 1986. Both have worked a variety of roles since they first joined. Bracey shared that she has worked at a lot of the dining facilities, including the now-deceased Red and Gray Cafe. She was also responsible for the coffee cart, which would allow people, floor by floor, to get coffee on the spot. Sanchez, similar to her sister, has also held several positions as well ranging from line server, managing deli, managing desserts, to food prep. In their current roles, you can find Bracey working as a barista at the newly opened Zaro’s Family Bakery and Sanchez handling food preparation and serving at the CrEATe station, both within America’s Cup Cafe, often referred to as A-Cup. When asked about what their days typically look like, both stated that they always have a busy start. Bracey shares that her mornings are extremely busy due to the high volume of orders for drinks and breakfast items at Zaro’s. For Sanchez, the rush at CrEATe starts later, but most of her mornings involve handling the preparation work required for the station to run smoothly.
Noting that Bracey and Sanchez have spent 42 and 39 years at Stevens, respectively, the Stute was curious to hear their thoughts on how the university has changed with time. Both agreed that the university has evolved for the better, especially with regard to the number of students and the backgrounds they come from. They explained how they are happy to see people from all different walks of life. Additionally, since both Bracey and Sanchez reside in Hoboken, they shared that, similar to the Stevens campus, Hoboken itself has experienced a lot of change, too. “It’s gotten crazier,” the sisters stated. According to them, the traffic has been the most substantial change, and the water main breaks have been the most consistent part of living in Hoboken all these years.
Reflecting back, Bracey and Sanchez share that they have loved their time at Stevens thus far. “There is not a thing we’d change. We love meeting the students; we treat them like they are our kids,” Sanchez shared. With regards to giving their younger selves who were just starting out advice, Bracey shared how she would give the same advice that she currently shares with anyone new joining the team: “As the Union representative and person with the most seniority, I always tell the newer people that it is a great place to work. Where else would you get a free meal, summers off, breaks during the workday, and have good people around you? Nowhere but here.” Lastly, in terms of concluding remarks, Bracey and Sanchez want to welcome all students to visit them at A-Cup and say hello.
