Spring 2007

A Farewell
To The College of Wooster Community

There are an astonishing number and variety of higher education institutions in the United States. To my mind, the national liberal arts colleges stand out as the most truly exceptional of these. For my entire career, I have been blessed to have a deep association with two of these institutions: Pomona College, my alma mater and then employer for 23 years, and The College of Wooster, where for the last 17 years Diane and I have been fully and happily engaged.

When I left Pomona to come to Wooster as vice president for academic affairs in 1990, it was a terribly difficult decision, because of the affection I had for my colleagues and students and for all that Pomona stood for. Yet, it was also a wonderfully exciting prospect because of all that Wooster seemed to offer. Little did I know, however, of the full depth and breadth of the richness that the Wooster experience would present to us, and little did I expect to have the opportunity five years later to become Wooster’s tenth president.

It is impossible to find words sufficient to express the gratitude that I feel for the hundreds of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees who have welcomed Diane and me warmly over the past 17 years and who have lent all their talents and efforts in the cause of Wooster’s growth and strengthening. For this, we can only say a giant THANK YOU for sharing with us a passion for this place.Wooster is indeed a jewel, and it has been our honor to take our turn in polishing it. You can do us no greater honor than to welcome Grant and Peg Cornwell with the same warmth and support with which you welcomed us.

A farewell letter is just that—a heartfelt wish that Wooster and all of its people will indeed fare well in the future. We plan to share this future with you for a few years before returning to our home state of California. That too will be a terribly difficult decision, because of the affection that we have for our colleagues and students here and for all that Wooster stands for.Wooster will always be an integral part of our lives.