UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION interim president DR. JONATHAN SPIRO
Dear Alumni and Friends, The fall provides an opportunity to look forward to the year ahead and reflect on the successes and challenges of the year that has passed. We feel fortunate that we were able to welcome our residential students back to campus this semester, given the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019-20 academic year will forever be remembered for the pandemic and its effect on our campus. For this generation, their student experience will always be defined by the spring of 2020. In fact, we all suffered lost experiences when a stay-at-home order was issued in March, sending our courses online, our students away, and our employees home to work. Athletic seasons were lost, and performances were canceled. Our Commencement was postponed in favor of an online celebration of our students’ accomplishments. There was not a single part of our University that was not affected. The pandemic did, however, teach us many valuable lessons. In the most difficult of times, we learn a lot about ourselves, our colleagues, and our community. Here are my observations: Our students are resilient, passionate, and courageous. Many of our students had not previously been exposed to online learning, yet they persevered. Despite the difficult circumstances, they moved one step closer to achieving their dreams with continued progress in their academic journey. Our faculty are dedicated and adaptable. On a moment’s notice, our professors brought their courses online with minimal disruption to students. Our staff are nimble and innovative. They continued to deliver critical services, such as Academic Support, Counseling Services, Wellness Center services, and Admissions events without missing a beat. Our donors and friends are generous and offer unwavering support. In a time of great uncertainty so many of our donors and friends offered kind words, moral support, and generous gifts in our greatest time of need. I’m pleased to present the fall edition of Castleton Magazine. Thank you for your continued support of Castleton University.
provost DR. TOM MAUHS-PUGH director of human resources JANET HAZELTON chief budget and finance officer LAURA JAKUBOWSKI chief technology officer GAYLE MALINOWSKI ’95 dean of enrollment MAURICE OUIMET dean of students DENNIS PROULX ’87 associate dean of advancement JAMES LAMBERT
ALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT data specialist LIZ GARSIDE ‘04 alumni relations coordinator CARRIE SAVAGE director of development & alumni affairs COURTNEY WIDLI ‘13 MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS director of athletic marketing & communications THOMAS BLAKE ’17 director of creative services JANE MACOMBER FOLEY director of design KATE RICHARDS
please send updates to ALUMNIOFFICE@CASTLETON.EDU please send comments to: COURTNEY WIDLI 62 ALUMNI DRIVE • CASTLETON, VT 05735 (802) 468-1241 • COURTNEY.WIDLI@CASTLETON.EDU
James Lambert Associate Dean of Advancement
published by OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT on the cover: ROBERT WRIGHT ’24 media & communication
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