- Home >
- Campus News
Bidding adieu
May 16, 2008
At the farewell reception last Thursday, the campus community gathered to honor faculty and staff members who are leaving PLU, either to retire or for new opportunities.
It was a bittersweet event that highlighted the transitions that take place on campus at the end of every academic year, said President Loren Anderson. The reception also featured memory books for each person leaving. Like high school yearbooks, colleagues scribbled in notes of encouragement, memories and good wishes.
Among the retirees was physics professor K.T. Tang, who is leaving the university after 41 years of service. In recent years, former students have returned to campus to tell Tang how he’s changed their lives.
“It makes me feel like I have lived a useful life,” he explained.
Tang said he’d miss his students and colleagues, but even in retirement, he’ll stay busy. He plans to write, read and travel, along with visiting other institutions.
Auxiliary services director Mark Mulder is among the other employees who are leaving the university for new opportunities. Next fall, Mulder will enter Washington State University to pursue his doctorate in business administration, with the goal to become a university professor.
This past year, Mulder taught some classes in the School of Business to determine if he was “crazy or called” for wanting to teach, he said. He realized the parts of his current job he appreciates – the opportunity to mentor others and explore new ideas – would also be part of his job as a faculty member. So, he decided to take the leap.
“It’s a good opportunity, and it really fits with my wild hope,” Mulder said. “It’s sad because I’m leaving a really positive place.”
Anderson recognized the 10 retiring employees in attendance at the reception, and he noted how long they’d been at PLU. They include: Carol Walther, 10 years; Nancy Knudsen, 16 years; Joan Riley, 18 years; Phyllis Meyerhoff, 22 years; Georgia Papacek, 24 years; Judy Ramaglia, 26 years; Celine Dorner, 27 years; Paul Menzel, 37 years; and K.T. Tang, 41 years.
Among the retirees was physics professor K.T. Tang, who is leaving the university after 41 years of service. In recent years, former students have returned to campus to tell Tang how he’s changed their lives.
“It makes me feel like I have lived a useful life,” he explained.
Tang said he’d miss his students and colleagues, but even in retirement, he’ll stay busy. He plans to write, read and travel, along with visiting other institutions.
Auxiliary services director Mark Mulder is among the other employees who are leaving the university for new opportunities. Next fall, Mulder will enter Washington State University to pursue his doctorate in business administration, with the goal to become a university professor.
This past year, Mulder taught some classes in the School of Business to determine if he was “crazy or called” for wanting to teach, he said. He realized the parts of his current job he appreciates – the opportunity to mentor others and explore new ideas – would also be part of his job as a faculty member. So, he decided to take the leap.
“It’s a good opportunity, and it really fits with my wild hope,” Mulder said. “It’s sad because I’m leaving a really positive place.”
Anderson recognized the 10 retiring employees in attendance at the reception, and he noted how long they’d been at PLU. They include: Carol Walther, 10 years; Nancy Knudsen, 16 years; Joan Riley, 18 years; Phyllis Meyerhoff, 22 years; Georgia Papacek, 24 years; Judy Ramaglia, 26 years; Celine Dorner, 27 years; Paul Menzel, 37 years; and K.T. Tang, 41 years.