| by Eva Gudbergsdottir

Campus Notes, News Stories

Length of Service slide
The Middlebury Institute‘s Annual Length of Service Recognition Ceremony was held on November 5, 2020.

The Middlebury Institute‘s Annual Length of Service Recognition Ceremony was held on November 5, 2020. In light of changes to the ceremony to honor to add a recognition of those who have served 5 years, there was a larger than usual group celebrated this year.
 

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute Jeffrey Dayton-Johnson presided over the event. He began by noting that many people in attendance have spent a significant share of their professional life to the Middlebury Institute and that “collectively, we all want to recognize those contributions, professional, academic, and personal, and that is what this is all about.“

2020 is the first year that the contributions of staff members who have served for five years is recognized at this annual event, so it was decided include a mention of the staff who have served 6, 7, 8, and 9 years – in addition to the 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 year honorees. A total of 74 staff members were celebrated by colleagues.

Those who have served the longest, or over two decades, a special colleague or friend made the introduction. Dean of the Graduate School of International Policy and Management said of his friend, Associate Professor William Arrocha, that he was “deeply, deeply, committed to the mission of the Institute, and the wellbeing of all students, and our community.

“Jill has taught me so much, including what it means to be a committed colleague and a great friend,“ Devin Luedekke, senior director of global recruiting shared, speaking of Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships Jill Stoffers. Describing her as dynamic and multifacted, Luedekke credited Stoffers with helping to build this organization over the past 20 years.

Professor Jeffrey Bale introduced Human Resources Coordinator Jan Dahlstrom who has served the Institute for a quarter of a century, calling her “unfailingly friendly, unfailingly helpful.“ Registrar and Director of Student Data Seamus Dorrian is also in the 25 year club but was unable to attend the ceremony. Recognizing him, Dayton-Johnson praised his “uncanny ability to predict enrollment numbers“ and called him a great colleague. 

Assistant Professor Tanya Pound Williams was also celebrated for her 25 years of service to MIIS, and was introduced by former student and current colleague Visiting Assistant Professor Chiyo Mori. “She is the bright, shiny, calming moon in the dark sky for me,“ Mori said and praised her for her mentorship, and her “incredibly and big heart heart.“

“Apart from being a wonderful, kind, quiet, knowledgeable human being,“ Laura Burian, dean of the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, and Language Education said of Professor Chuanyun Bao who has taught at the Institute for 30 years, - “actually, he is a rock star with a solid fan club,“ referring to how well known he is for his contributions to the field. “We would not be where we are at the Institute without his contributions,“ Burian added.

Finally, Dayton-Johnson recognized the “extraordinary duration of service and impact“ of Professor Rosa Kavenoki who has taught continuously at the Institute for 35 years. Kavenoki could not participate in the celebration this year, but received a warm applause from her colleagues at the event.

For More Information

Eva Gudbergsdottir
evag@middlebury.edu
831-647-6606