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CSU Bakersfield’s staff member Sheila Barela died on Jan. 4, 2016. Barela, 50, was known throughout campus as a strong-willed and big-hearted person, who had a tendency to be pro-active in all matters relating to CSUB.
“Anytime there was any type of event that involved the public she would be involved, days, nights, [and]weekends,” said Ken Simpson, Facilities Management staff member. “She was a valuable asset to this college to the way this college has grown and the number of events and the different things that we have on this campus.”
Like Simpson, many of the people who worked closely with Barela remember her fondly as a hard worker and consistently went above and beyond to ensure that the campus was a safe environment for students.
“Her duties touched almost every facet of our university,” said Timothy Ridley, Director of Safety and Risk Management. “She had a great mind for understanding regulations and how they applied to the campus, extremely diligent in her work performance. She authored many of the existing health and safety programs for the campus. She was a student here, she developed her career here [and] she cared about this campus a great deal.”
Before CSUB, Barela served in the Army for 10 years as a combat and medical specialist. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental resource management in 1998 from CSUB, and began her career in the Department of Safety and Risk Management in Oct. 2000. She would eventually become the Environmental Health and Safety Specialist and the President of Staff Forum.
“I met Sheila when she joined,” said Diana Torres, Administrative Support Coordinator. “Staff Forum is an organization on campus that helps staff morale. We try to do little socials each quarter — we’ll have a donut social, an ice cream social — it is kind of a network to keep everybody engaged socially to help each other out. I really enjoy being in it.”
Former secretary and now current president of Staff Forum Melissa Ackerly said that Barela had a lot of school spirit.
“I just know her as being that strong person that led Staff Forum,” said Ackerly. “She was going to make sure that it ran well, that staff was appreciated and that socials went the way they were supposed to so that staff could enjoy it. Her passion for making Staff Forum run was amazing. Those are some big shoes to fill.”
Barela survived by her sisters, Colleen and Lindsey Barela; her father and stepmother, Frank and Patricia Barela; and a daughter, Kaylin Barela.
She also leaves behind many friends at CSUB.
“She is going to be sorely missed,” said Simpson.
