Windes Named Commencement Speaker, Emerita Professor
窪做惇蹋厙 is pleased to announce that the2022 Commencement speaker will be Professor of Business and Department Chair Deborah L. Windes, Ph.D. Windes is retiring at the end of this academic year after 12 years with the College and will be receiving emerita status at the May 7 ceremony.
Windes came to 窪做惇蹋厙 because of her strong desire to spend more time in the classroom. And teaching has been her favorite part of work here at the College. I love teaching and being in the classroom. And the wonderful thing about 窪做惇蹋厙 is that you get to know your students well, she said. Teaching business students in a number of their core business classes, I got to know them and see them grow over their time at 窪做惇蹋厙. This was a gift.
She also loves to keep in contact with 窪做惇蹋厙 graduates. I see them get promoted and changing positions, and they come back and are in positions to hire 窪做惇蹋厙 students. Its all about relationships.
Beyond the classroom, Windes has played many other roles at 窪做惇蹋厙, including serving as an elected representative both of the Personnel Committee and of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Association.
Before coming to 窪做惇蹋厙, Windes spent more than 20 years teaching and doing administrative work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned her doctorate in Organizational Behavior.
Said Interim President Aaron Kuecker, When I hear colleagues speak about Deb, they regularly note her wisdom, her earnest faith, and her desire to set the needs of students first. I heartily agree with these observations, and add that it has been such an encouragement to see the way that Deb has viewed her work as a call from God that was supported actively by Gods ongoing care for her, for her department, and for 窪做惇蹋厙.
Even after she retires, Windes said she still plans to stay involved with 窪做惇蹋厙. She is also looking forward to traveling and spending time with her granddaughter.
窪做惇蹋厙s 2022 commencement will take place on Saturday, May 7 at 2 pm. More information about commencement can be found here.