Broeders, a woman who can hold her own

Students at Virginia Wesleyan College have all had contact with Donna Broeders but have seldom gotten a chance to know her. She is the woman who gives out new key and ID cards, and deals with parking violation complaints.

“I deal with a lot of students who are irritated,” she said. “I’ve actually had one 8 to 10 inches from my face, cussing me out.”

Broeders is an easygoing individual, but will not tolerate disrespect from students.

“I’m the easiest person to get along with,” she said. “I give students respect and expect it in return.”

After Broeders mentions Seth Brady or Keith Moore’s name, the student will usually calm down.

Being the only female in a male majority is not anything new for Broeders.

“I’ve worked in a dominantly male industry for years,” she said.

Broeders described her co-workers as extended family.

“I work with a good group and I learn a lot from them,” she said.

Last year her male co-workers extended helping hands when Broeders, her husband and daughter were in a serious car accident.

“The Captain and Lt. Manny White were kind,” she said. “They made sure I got home safe and helped me out with my kids.”

Broeders is the mother of three children; two sons, 15 and 17; and a 10-year-old daughter.

“She holds her own,” she said.

Her husband is a senior chief in the navy on shore duty for the next 20 to 25 years.

“My son’s already expressed interest in going into the armed forces,” she said. “I wish that he would go into a field that’s a little safer.”

Broeders has not always worked in the “safest” line of work. She has worked in police departments as a dispatcher.

“The hardest call is when someone’s child isn’t breathing,” she said. “It keeps you in check with reality.”

Working in a line of work where adrenaline is constantly rushing, life for a police officer can be stressful.

“You have to think fast and make the right decisions,” she said.

While living in Mississippi, Broeders worked in the corporate office of Isle of Capri Casinos. She started as a security officer, later became a slot machine attendant, then went on to work in the customer service department.

“I basically worked my way up,” she said. “I had to deal with a few aggravating characters.”

Her experiences in the casinos prepared her to deal with different personality types.

She said, “When I was a customer service representative at the casino, I had to deal with irate people from all walks of life.”

Through Broeders’ personal interaction with many people, there have been occasions when she felt she had made a difference in someone’s life.

“I’ve had people come to me with relationship problems,” she said.

roeders was raised by her grandparents and lived in Florida, Mississippi and Georgia.

“My grandfather was a horticulturist for the National Arboretum,” she said. “He developed an azalea and named it after my grandmother, the Louise Dowdle Azalea.”

Broeders also lived in California for a few years.

“I used to gallop horses in Santa Anita Hollywood Park,” she said.

Needless to say, Broeders has lived all over the country. She moved to the Hampton Roads area after her husband was transferred here for the Navy. She chose working at the college because her husband had told her that it would be a nice place to work.

“It’s a nice campus and it’s in a good area,” she said. “Leo’s an excellent boss, but don’t mention yellow raincoats around him.”

Broeders has taken a few classes on campus and warns against taking a summer statistics course.

“Do not take a summer statistics course,” she said. “It was too much information to absorb in such a short time.”

She thoroughly enjoys the ceramics class she is taking.

“I really like it and it’s very rewarding,” she said. “Professor Gillfoyle makes it look so easy.”

Creativity runs in Broeders’ family.

“My uncle, John Ringland, designed the Florida State Seal,” she said.

Broeders is much more than the woman sitting behind a desk.