At Millsaps, she's everyone's mama. It doesn't matter how old you are, what race you are or even how weird you are—Denise Gonsalves, 42, is going to be your mama.
"I love that first shock when people meet me," she explains. "When I see a new student, I shout and say hello. Then I say, 'Now you're gonna be my baby.'"
Gonsalves is currently the Kava House manager and the supervisor for the Hall Activities Center (HAC). She began working at Millsaps in 1998 in the cafeteria, and she quickly become more of a staple than the chicken tenders. Regardless of how tired students are of eating cafeteria food, Gonsalves—or, "Miss Denise," as everyone knows her—has made the trip worthwhile by cheering everyone up. She knows (almost) everyone's name and their interests. She loves the kids at Millsaps, so it's important to her to get to know them.
"My kids are weird," she laughs. "We're all weird in our own way; we're all individuals at Millsaps. That's why I love working here."
Since she moved from the cafeteria to the Kava House and the HAC, Gonsalves has been working seven days a week, each day bringing her same effervescent cheer to the campus.
"I have always worked two or three jobs, so it's no big deal to me. I don't want to depend on the government, so I'll work as many jobs as I need to," she says.
The seven years she has spent at Millsaps are just the beginning, she says. She plans to be at the college at least 20 more years, eventually moving to be an admissions counselor. As soon as her daughter Erika, 22, graduates college, Gonsalves plans to get a degree of her own so that she can work in Admissions.
"Millsaps has been so good to me," she explains, citing numerous examples of how the community has loved her. When her granddaughter Rikyla was born with Down's Syndrome, the Millsaps Community started an annual Buddy Walk to raise money for her medical bills. Last year, the walk raised 2,500 dollars.
And the school recognizes how important she has been, too. Just last week, the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity awarded her its prize for Outstanding Support for the Millsaps Community. But this is just part of the job. Her long hours, ceaseless dedication and failing spirit are just part of being a mother .
"You're all my children," she says. "And I love you."
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