Linda Henderson was an invaluable and reassuring resource for campus faculty, staff, and administrators when they had questions about complicated and confidential personnel matters.

Henderson joined Chico State in 1987 as a senior secretary in Human Resources. She was reclassified as an administrative operations analyst in 1991 and again as a confidential administrative support in 1997 before she retired in 2006. She passed away in 2019.

Prior to joining the University staff, Henderson worked at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Stockton, and Chico Community Hospital.

During her tenure on campus, Henderson was considered the go-to person for faculty HR issues. She was prized not only for her knowledge but her demeanor. “Linda was the epitome of professional,” said Tami Toon, retired Confidential Labor Relations Support. “She combined knowledge and grace to be one of the greatest campus resources I’ve ever seen or dealt with at Chico State. She always maintained her cool, even when under extreme pressure, and could cite Executive Memorandums or Collective Bargaining Agreement articles off the top of her head in a flash.”

Among the many important topics that personnel relied upon Henderson’s assistance for were RTP (retention, tenure and promotion), FERP (Faculty Early Retirement Program), SSI (service salary increases), FFFP (Faculty Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual), CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreements), faculty appointments, lecturer entitlements, and sabbatical eligibility.

“I was extremely fortunate to work directly with Linda for approximately two years,” said Mary Wrightson, retired Central Services Support Representative. “I saw firsthand the respect and admiration she received from administration, deans, chairs, faculty, colleagues, supervisors, and coworkers. Linda was always available to share her vast knowledge with everyone. She was a mentor to me and I’m sure many others. I learned so much during the time we worked together.”

“She had a huge impact on me and has always been someone that I wanted to be like when I ‘grow up.’ Not only was she a very classy person in the way she dressed and carried herself, but she was always professional,” said Rebecca Cagle, director of Payroll Services and the Human Resources Information Center. “This included the way she responded to people’s questions and helped people. She was so knowledgeable, respectful, level-headed, and always credible.”

In the community, Henderson was a key founder and participant of the ladies auxiliary for the General George Washington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in Chico. She wrote the newsletter for the group and along with her husband, Stan, hosted many meetings and special events.