Postmaster Delivers Joy and Delight to Shorter Students Christopher Cole, Director of Mail Services, is one of Shorter’s hidden gems. He has worked at Shorter for a little over a year and is a bright spot on campus, especially for students. Cole, a 33-year veteran of the United States Postal Service (USPS), wanted to continue working part-time after his retirement. Shorter hired Cole on July 28, 2022; his last day at USPS was July 29, 2022. Cole believed God worked out the timing perfectly, and that it was meant for him to be at Shorter. Cole’s favorite part about working at Shorter is his interaction with students, faculty, and staff members on a daily basis. He loves talking to students and learning more about them and their stories. It is a joy for Cole to see students receive unexpected packages from friends and family on their birthdays, for example. Students enjoy Cole’s engaging personality and truly believe he cares about them. “If you’re ever having a bad day, just go and see Mr. Cole. He will turn your day around,” said Brianna Johnston, a junior communication studies major from Rome, Georgia. Johnston worked in the Shorter Post Office last summer and said Cole is truly a light on campus. “He is always so joyful, which is expressed through his jokes, conversations and even new songs he writes and plays on his ukulele,” said Johnston. Working at Shorter is a little more fun compared to the USPS, according to Cole. At Shorter, he gets to deliver fun packages, letters, cards, and gift cards, which people look forward to picking up. Cole looks forward to seeing the delight on students’ faces when they receive a surprise package. The beginning of each semester is the busiest as he processes and gives out hundreds of packages. Many students order products on-line and have them delivered to Shorter making this time of year the most productive for Cole. Outside of work, Cole is also an amateur actor. He has acted in numerous plays at the Rome Little Theatre, worked on commercials in Atlanta, and even been in various television streaming series such as Ozark on Netflix. Last year, Cole also acted in a student-produced film for the Department of Communication Studies. This year, he acted in a production with the Shorter Theatre Department. Out of all of the acting he has done, Cole said the ones with
Chris Cole, Director of Mail Services Photo by: Maggie Parker
Shorter students have meant the most. Shorter University is 150 years old, which is something Cole really appreciates. He loves the beauty of campus and highlights the front circle as his favorite part about Shorter. “A lot of times, I drive up by the Winthrop-King Centre. But every once in a while, I want to drive up the S curve, pass by the main gate, and look at the Sheffield-Thompson building because of the beauty of our campus,” said Cole. One of the things he loves about the front circle is seeing students playing games and having a great time of fellowship with one another. Cole’s joy, jokes, and time for a quick chat, are why many people see him as the light and heart of campus. Cole thinks the world of the students, faculty, and staff at Shorter and appreciates the support from everyone. He is proud to be a part of Shorter and is happy to serve those on The Hill. By: Rasmus Berg The Hawkeye | 5
