Marcel Assink, receiving his Employee of the Month certificate from Mason Interim President Anne Holton, says his best days on the job are when students tell him he made a difference in their lives. Photo by Lathan Goumas.
Naomi Martinez-Jones, director of George Mason University’s Disability Services, said that every now and then someone in the office will exclaim, “Where can I get a Marcel?”
Marcel Assink, data analyst and office manager for Disability Services within University Life, has excelled in his role for the past nine years. He is the liaison to Human Resources and Payroll, Fiscal Services, Telecom, and ITS. He maintains his department’s database and provides data to leadership.
“Marcel Assink is the heartbeat of Disability Services,” said Jason Northrup, the office’s associate director. “You will never hear Marcel say, ‘That’s not my job.’ He responds with kindness and assistance. I’ve seen Marcel directly support other University Life offices during times of need. Marcel is there to help.”
He also is Mason’s January Employee of the Month.
“I was very surprised that my colleagues nominated me,” Assink said. “I would like to thank them for the honor.”
In 2019 Assink was responsible for coordinating search committees for five Disability Services positions and three Student Support and Advocacy Center positions, while also assisting in searches with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education; Counseling and Psychological Services; and LGBTQ+ Resources. Since July, he also has acted as interim business manager for the Student Support and Advocacy Center.
“Marcel is a gem,” said Jamilah Anderson, associate director of the Mason Autism Support Initiative. “He works diligently every day to ensure that members of our office have the tools needed to address the needs of students. and he does so with positivity and a dash of humor.”
“I like to research things and figure out the right solutions,” Assink said. “I like people coming to me for advice; I also turn to a lot of other colleagues for their knowledge and expertise. One of the most important things to keep me motivated is having a great team and leadership that values the work I do.”
How he got here:
This is my first job in higher ed. In the past, I worked for a logistics company and an insurance company, both in the Netherlands. From the beginning of my time at Mason, I was employed through Disability Services. I started as a wage employee in September 2010. This turned in a classified position in November 2010.
Best day on the job:
The best days are those when students tell me that the support they received from me during their time at Mason made a big difference in their life.
What he likes best about working at Mason:
Mason has a great work environment, especially the collaboration with other offices within University Life.
What he does when not working:
Early morning walks with our beagle and a cup of coffee, gardening, and traveling.