Farewell to Retired Staff 2014-2015

Eight faculty and 23 staff retired during the 2014-2015 academic year. Retiring faculty are given the option to be recognized in the Commencement program and by President Marvin Krislov during the Commencement ceremony, while retiring staff are given the option to have their service acknowledged here on the OnCampus website.

Camille Hamlin Allen retired July 1, 2014, after 40 years of service in many capacities, ending with the position of assistant to the president for equity concerns. Over the years, Allen also served as assistant dean in charge of international students; assistant dean in charge of leaves, withdrawals, and suspensions and student sexual harassment concerns; director of counseling services within student support services; director of special academic advising; coordinator of college tutorials; and as a residence hall director.

Melissa Ballard retired July 3, 2014, after working at Oberlin since 1997. Ballard was a study and reading strategies instructor in Student Academic Services, and she also provided one-on-one academic support to students in the college and conservatory. Beginning in 2004, she coordinated the Learning Assistance Program. From 2004-2009, she also served as a class dean. Ballard says she misses her students and coworkers, but she now has more time to focus on writing. To date, her essays have appeared in the Oberlin Alumni Magazine and Inside Higher Ed, Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction, as well as other publications.

Christopher Baymiller '71, associate director of the Student Union, retired October 31, 2014.

Lizette Benzing, art monographs cataloger, retired August 29, 2014.

Judith Burrer retired from campus dining services on April 20, 2015.

George Clark retired from building and grounds administration on August 15, 2014.

Catherine Cuthbertson retired from the Office of Student Accounts on November 4, 2014.

Michael Gaines retired December 31, 2014, after working 42 years for the Department of Athletics and Physical Education. 

Roberta Garcia, administrative assistant for the dean of arts and sciences, retired on January 9, 2015.

Peter Hastings '80 retired July 7, 2014, after working 30 years for grounds and athletics maintenance. He studied English at the college.

Gretchen Higgins, administrative assistant and accounts supervisor for the technology store, retired December 31, 2014.

Central Ticket Service Office Manager Barbara Kessler retired January 7, 2015, after 30 years with the college.

Eleanor Knapp, administrative assistant for the Office of Admissions, retired August 31, 2014, after working 47 years for the college.

Nina Lorandeau, Oberlin College Library circulation desk administrative assistant, retired September 30, 2014.

Museum Security Officer Frances Moorman retired November 2, 2014.

Arthur Ripley retired October 7, 2014, after 35 years of service in the Irvin E. Houck Center for Information Technology (CIT). Now retired, Ripley, who is an active bicyclist, rides his recumbent tricycle 30-50 miles per week in the warmer months. A member of the Lorain Skating Club, he takes lessons and practices with his partner, Coral Lear, three times per week. He and Lee compete on the local, regional, and national levels.

Virginia Tansey, administrative assistant for the Office of Admissions, retired May 15, 2015, after 25 years with the college.

Barbara Thomas, psychologist and clinical director for the Counseling Center, will retire June 15, 2015.

Jean Watling, who works in the Human Resources Department, will retire June 30, 2015.

Jo Ellen Watts retired from campus dining services on July 31, 2014.

Phyllis Yarber Hogan, administrative assistant for student academic services, retired December 31, 2014.

Are you a former staff member who retired during the 2014-2015 academic year? Send a statement about your retirement to communications@oberlin.edu, and the communications staff will update the information included here.