’12

Those who know me know that I love Union and that it has had a profound impact on my personal, academic and professional lives. My fondest memories are of the people I met who directly shaped who I am today.

As two people extremely important to my academic and professional careers walk through the western door of the Nott Memorial at the end of this academic year, I feel compelled to share my gratitude to them in the College’s newspaper.

I recall sitting at my desk as a freshman in Davidson in late September of 2008 with my first Concordy writing assignment in hand. I was asked to write about lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. Setting the bar high and hoping to impress my upperclassman editor, I sought out to interview any college administrator who would respond to my emails.

I sent emails to the Directors of Campus Safety and Residential Life, Dean Leavitt, the President of the Interfraternity Council and, while I didn’t think he would respond given his busy schedule, I also sent one to President Ainlay. Unexpectedly, he was the first person to respond.

On this topic, President Ainlay did what he does best: encouraged an open dialogue about the issues to hear what people had to say.

As published in the October 9, 2008 edition of Concordy, President Ainlay said, “Our campuses need to discuss [the drinking age and underage drinking], colleges and universities and their host cities need to discuss it, and there needs to be discussion on a variety of strategies…”

From that moment, President Ainlay showed to me, and the entire campus, that he wanted to encourage a community of strong relationships, intellectual debate and curiosity.

As I began to build a relationship with President Ainlay, we soon realized that we shared a love for history, specifically the history of Union. Building upon my Sophomore Research Project, in which I researched how this newspaper chronicled certain events in the College’s history, I approached the President about a potential summer research project – updating Wayne Somers’ Encyclopedia of Union College History.

Rather than dismissing it as an overly ambitious project (which it was), President Ainlay handed me a book – Great Stories from History For Everyday of the Year. He had been thinking about starting a project in his spare time (which he didn’t have, but made sure to make time for his students) and suggested I channel my interest through “Union 365” – a story from Union’s history for everyday of the year.

I spent most of my summer in the Schaffer Library archives and couldn’t wait to share my “discoveries” with President Ainlay. It was an interesting and exciting project that helped build our relationship around a common, yet obscure, interest and I am grateful that he provided me with an opportunity to work alongside and build a relationship with him.

Thank you, President Ainlay, for your guidance and mentorship and for teaching me to strive to find common ground and interests with those whom I work with on a daily basis.

Within my first weeks at Union, I was notified that I had received a work-study in which I was to report to the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Minerva Programs – Tom McEvoy. To say I was nervous is an understatement – my only experience with any Dean was Dean Vernon Wormer from the movie Animal House.

When Michelle Pawlowski told me to just knock on Tom’s door (which was almost always open – he had an opendoor policy for students and he truly meant it), I expected a stern, gruff man who saw students as files, instead I met a future friend and mentor who enjoyed having conversations with students – both intellectual and comedic.

Tom and the rest of the office staff welcomed me with open arms and gave me the opportunity to learn from my experiences in the classroom and on campus as well as applying those experiences toward improving the lives of Union students.

In the history of Union College, Tom should be considered as the true father of the modern Minerva Program for he has nurtured the seven houses through their controversial beginnings, he has enhanced campus life through thousands of social and academic events, and

through the Minerva Fellows, Minerva Mentors and First- Year Pre-Orientation Experience Programs. Through each of these programs, Tom has empowered students to show up, to take responsibility and to lead.

President Stephen Ainlay and Dean Tom McEvoy shaped the lives of thousands of students, including mine, and their accomplishments will continue to contribute to the lives of future Union students for generations to come.

As both of you walk through the western doors of the Nott Memorial for the final time on Commencement Day, please know that you will be forever appreciated for the opportunities and new frontiers which you have been instrumental in providing for alumni, current students and future students.