Five longtime colleagues retired from Wilmington University: Mark Paris on March 31; Trudy Hite, Laura Leary and Alice Corning on June 30; and Sue Miller on July 31.
Mark with granddaughter Cody
Mark Paris joined then-Wilmington College in 1981. He started in the Maintenance Department, overseeing grounds and maintenance at the Old Customs House on King Street in Wilmington. (WilmU had purchased that building to serve as a graduate center.) After five years in that role, he was named head of Maintenance at the New Castle location. In the early to mid-2000s, Paris served as Purchasing Coordinator, a title he held until retiring on March 31. He describes his time at WilmU as “many years working at a great place with many great people.”
Alice Corning joined the University in 1983 as assistant to the program director and retired as director of Alumni Relations in Kent and Sussex counties. In 1986, she was promoted to site coordinator while also working part-time as an advertising coordinator. In 1992, Alice was named site manager for Silver Lake and New Castle, and in 2001, she became site manager for the Dover and New Castle sites. In 2003, Alice was named site director for Dove, then was promoted to her current role in 2011.
Trudy Hite was hired as bursar in 2000 and retired as senior director of Student Financial Services. She led numerous projects and was instrumental in her work with CAMS and Banner implementations. In addition to her leadership in Student Payment and Financial Aid areas, her considerable knowledge fortified her expertise in student service operations, making her a valued member of many committees and a colleague many depended on. When she proposed policies and processes, she put the needs of students first. Colleagues often depended on her extensive skills.
Laura Leary joined then-Wilmington College in 1986 as a part-time graduate program coordinator at the Dover Air Force Base site. She supported the MS in Management program designed specifically for military students. In 1987, Leary became full-time, then was promoted in 1990 to director of WilmU’s DAFB site. Her position changed in scope to United States Air Force liaison and Site Operations director.
At a WilmU ceremony in March of 2009, the Delaware National Guard’s 198th Military Transition Team presented Leary with a Certificate of Service and a flag that was flown over their base camp in Iraq in recognition of supplies her team had sent to their troops in Iraq. With her close-knit team, Leary also collected and delivered supplies from WilmU staff and students at all locations, then sent more than 40 packages from the DAFB. She earned another Certificate of Appreciation for collecting more than 200 boxes of supplies for troops serving in Desert Storm.
Sue Miller with husband John
Sue Miller joined then-Wilmington College in 1993 as an administrative assistant to the dean of Nursing and retired as assistant to the senior vice president and COO. Her considerable writing skills made her an excellent communicator as well as an outstanding recorder for all UCC meetings, Board of Trustees meetings, and until last year, Faculty Senate meetings. Her compassionate nature served students well as she helped them overcome challenges and followed up consistently to ensure their success.
“These colleagues embodied our values,” says Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon. “While they each excelled in different areas, they had in common their dedication to students, respect for co-workers, and commitment to the University. I wish them the best in their retirements.”
Featured photo: Laura Leary