Wheaton Wire

Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Lauren Grillo ‘11 Dean Sue Alexander will retire at the end of the semester after 21 years.

For those who attended the "Hail and Farewell" for Vice President Dean of Students Sue Alexander on Friday, April 25. "Dean Sue," as most call her, was more than just an administrator.

Wheaton Athletic Mentor co-presidents Brian Dundon '09 and Kara Ganssle '08 praised her "unwavering support for our athletic teams." Christine Koh '95 lauded the way that she "actively cultivated and supported women in leadership." President Crutcher thanked her for helping him "to become a recovering helicopter parent."

Last weekend's event, which took place in a packed Chapel, was unofficially dubbed "Dean Suepalooza" by SGA President Mike Zwolinski '08. The event was meant to be a send-off for Alexander, who will retire at the end of this semester after working for 21 years as Wheaton's Dean of Students.

"You will be sorely missed. You've made a tremendous contribution to Wheaton College," Crutcher told Alexander during his opening remarks.

In a parody of Alexander's traditional welcome speech to new students and families during orientation, Zwolinski listed the "numbers" that he said helped to demonstrate Alexander's success.

Since Alexander came to Wheaton in 1987 to help with the transition to co-education, Zwolinski said, Wheaton has had "over 7,000 students, 3 Presidents, 5 Trustee Chairs … 3 Rhodes Scholarships … 42 Fulbrights … 16 different SGA Presidents" and "301 All-Americans."

Continuing with the parody, Zwolinski quoted some students' ideas of what Alexander's first-year housing survey answers would be, such as "I'll come to Wheaton, but only if [Senior Associate Dean of Students] Jack [Kuszaj] can come too."

Alumni Christine Koh '95, John Sutyak '00 and Daniel Wolf '02 spoke about their gratitude for Alexander's commitment to their success while and after studying at Wheaton.

"She is one of those remarkable people who everyone wants to befriend," [Koh] said, citing Alexander's support during [Koh's] three years as The Wire's editor-in-chief. "She has modeled what is most important in life: love, acceptance and joy cultivated by family."

Sutyak, who is Wheaton's Associate Director of Athletics and a former Area Coordinator in Meadows, agreed. He cited Alexander's support for the athletic department and her role in helping Wheaton's male athletes during the school's first years as a co-educational institution.

Continued...

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