Retiring Faculty Honored for Contributions The VCU School of Education said farewell to three faculty members who ended decades of service to the school this year. At a reception held in the VCU Scott House, colleagues and friends celebrated the accomplishments of Department of Counselor Education Associate Professor Susan D. Leone, Ed.D., Department of Educational Leadership Assistant Professor Cheryl C. Magill, Ph.D., Department of Special Education and Disability Policy Professor and Partnership for People with Disabilities Executive Director Fred P. Orelove, Ph.D., School of Education Associate Director Vicki B. Wilson, Ed.D., and Center for School Improvement Director Jo Lynne S. DeMary, Ed.D.
over the past few decades. She’s always open to new suggestions and ideas for program growth and development, which is one of the main reasons I came here.” Department of Educational Leadership Chair Charol Shakeshaft, Ph.D., honored Dr. Magill for bringing something to the job that many academics do not. “She gets it done. She doesn’t say, ‘Let’s have a committee’; she doesn’t say, ‘Let’s talk about it next time’; she doesn’t say, ‘Let’s think about that’ and perhaps get back to you. She’s incredible for the amount of work she does with practitioners and leading the new Doctor of Education degree in Leadership program and making it a national model.”
Colleagues who knew them best reflected on their work and friendship.
Department of Special Education and Disability Policy Chair Evelyn Reed, Ph.D., honored Dr. Orelove. “Everything that he does is with his heart. His brain is superior and that is where those wonderful puns come from every five minutes. And he has been a great leader.”
Department of Counselor Education Chair Mary A. Hermann, J.D., Ph.D., called Dr. Leone a wonderful colleague, consultant and friend. “Several people attribute their being a counselor to the fact that they took a course with Suzee Leone. She’s recruited great students, has kept the program current even as the role of school counselor has changed dramatically
Dr. Orelove, who was with VCU for more than 30 years, expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their support. “There is no way any of us come prepared to do these jobs. And upon retiring, I’m finally beginning to know how much I still don’t know. Call it wisdom. I call it confession. But the stuff I do know, it’s because somebody let me practice on them.”
(Top right, clockwise) Dr. Fred Orelove and Interim Dean Michael Davis. ~ Dr. Cheryl Magill said, “It’s been a great ride.” ~ Dr. Susan Leone ~ Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary with Interim Dean Michael Davis. ~ Dr. Vicki Wilson (center) with Drs. Harold Wright and Ken Magill.
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