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Mary Maxwell, administrative assistant for the Office of College Advancement |
On Friday, December 5, 2008, Mary Maxwell, administrative assistant for the Office of College Advancement, was honored for her 40 years of service to the college. Maxwell’s years of dedication to Randolph-Macon were lauded by faculty, staff, family and friends at the college’s annual faculty/staff holiday dinner.
R-MC President Robert Lindgren expressed gratitude for Maxwell’s remarkable commitment to Randolph-Macon. “Mary, your talent and dedication, coupled with your unwavering desire to help everyone—students, faculty, staff and alumni—make you one of the most respected and valued members of our college community,” said President Lindgren. “I can’t thank you enough for the contributions you have made to the well-being of this special College.”
Maxwell began her career at R-MC in 1968, working for 10 years as a keypunch operator in the computer center, which was located in the basement of Mary Branch Residence Hall. With the onset of the computer age, keypunching became obsolete, and Maxwell began working as a secretary in the dean’s office. “I worked in the dean’s office for 10 years,” says Maxwell. “Working in Peele Hall was wonderful because I got to know all the faculty, staff and students.”
A vacancy in the development office spurred Maxwell to switch gears, and in 1988 she began working in the advancement office as an administrative assistant.
The college has changed quite a bit since Maxwell’s first days as a keypunch operator. “When I began working at Randolph-Macon, the college was all-male, with a student body of 700,” she says.” “During my career at R-MC I’ve worked for four deans. A lot of things have changed, but the campus is still a close-knit community.”
Maxwell was touched by Friday night’s celebration. “The recognition of my 40 years with R-MC was a memorable night—especially the standing ovation I received! Randolph-Macon has been good to me, and I’ve given my best to Randolph-Macon. I hope to always be part of the Randolph-Macon family.”
Approximately 230 attendees enjoyed the holiday dinner, which was held in the Alumni Gym. The evening was an opportunity for faculty, staff and retirees to usher in the holiday season and celebrate their dedication to the college. President Lindgren welcomed attendees, saying “I want to thank you all for your loyalty, hard work and commitment to this fine school. We share a noble calling that helps influence the minds and character of tomorrow’s citizens, and we should take pride in a profession that has so much value to society.”
Following a delightful dinner, President Lindgren announced the 2008 Service Award recipients. “You give so much of yourselves every day to this important work and teach, mentor and nurture our students both in and outside the classroom,” he said. “It is somewhat symbolic that we gather like this because in a very real way, we are a family, and what we do every day for our students and each other gives us a common purpose. During a season that emphasizes the importance of family and relationships, it is only fitting that we come together to celebrate our blessings and enjoy good fellowship. Thank you for all that you do.” Below is a list of the other service award recipients lauded at Friday’s fete:
|
Name |
Years of Service |
Department |
| Amy deGraff, Ph.D. |
30 |
Romance Languages |
| Bill Franz, Ph.D. |
25 |
Physics |
| Aouicha Hilliard, Ph.D. |
25 |
Romance Languages |
| Mary Neal |
25 |
Financial Aid |
| Holly Rison |
25 |
Financial Aid |
| Catherine Best |
20 |
Business Office |
| Carl Henderson |
20 |
Physical Plant |
| Raymond Hindman |
20 |
IT Services |
| Debora Napier |
20 |
Admissions Office |
| Paula Pardue |
20 |
College Advancement |
| Brenda Harview |
15 |
Business Office |
| Herman Oxendine |
15 |
Physical Plant |
| Bruce Torrence, Ph.D. |
15 |
Mathematics |
| Thomas Badey, Ph.D. |
10 |
Political Science |
| Sarah Doggett |
10 |
Financial Aid |
| Kim Fish |
10 |
IT Services |
| James Foster, Ph.D. |
10 |
Biology |
| Harry Orell |
10 |
IT Services |
| Sheila Straus |
10 |
Physical Plant |
| Dian Thompson |
10 |
IT Services |
| Craig Anderson, Ph.D. |
5 |
Career & Counseling Services |
| Chirashree Bhattacharya, Ph.D. |
5 |
Mathematics |
| Denise Bissler, Ph.D. |
5 |
Sociology |
| Craig Collins |
5 |
Environmental Health/Safety |
| Joan Conners, Ph.D. |
5 |
Communication Studies |
| Alana Davis |
5 |
Registrar |
| Todd Munson, Ph.D. |
5 |
Asian Studies |
| Linda Neale |
5 |
Campus Safety |
| Betty Ann Pierce |
5 |
Admissions |
| Annette Stone |
5 |
Physical Plant |
| Barbara Swords |
5 |
Physical Plant |
| John Thoburn, Ph.D. |
5 |
Chemistry |
| Joseph Witt |
5 |
Athletics |