By the end of the spring 2013 semester, five total professors will be retiring from the College of
Education & Human Services and the Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences, as well as one coach from Longwood Athletics.
Peggy Ward in the Dean’s Office of the College of Education & Human Services stated that the two faculty members graduating from her respective college include, Dr. Phil Gapinski, assistant professor of Health Education, Athletic Training, Recreation and Kinesiology, and Gayle Daly, senior clinical instructor in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS). Daly has practiced as a speech language pathologist for over 30 years.
Chrystyna Kosarchyn, professor of Health Educations, shared, “Dr. Gapinski has worked tirelessly during his seven years as Assistant Professor of Health Education to prepare the best teachers of Health Education PK-12.”
Kosarchyn added, “He is a true asset to the profession of Health Education as exemplified by all the things he did for his students, for whom he cared about deeply, as well as for his camaraderie and willingness to pitch in to teach whatever was needed, even providing remedial swimming lessons to students who needed to pass the swimming test.”
Longwood student Sarah Sharp said, “Mrs. Daly was a wonderful professor. She was my teacher for phonetics, which is arguably one of the hardest CSDS classes that we have to take. Mrs. Daly had a way of taking a really tough subject and making it easy and fun to learn.”
Longwood student Suzanne Toluba said, “Without Mrs. Daly, the CSDS program would not be the same. In fact, if it wasn't for her dedication, the master's program at Longwood would not be offered here today. I am very grateful for all the time and effort she put toward the program.”
In the Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences, Dr. John Reynolds, professor of German, and Dr. Ruth Budd, associate professor of Spanish, are retiring. Both professors are in the Department of English & Modern Languages.
Dr. Ronald McPherson, associate professor of Computer Information Management Systems, is also retiring. Reynolds has been a professor of modern languages since 1987. According to Longwood University’s website, Reynolds directed the International Studies program for 10 years.
Also, with the help of Dr. Geoff Orth, director of the Cormier Honors College, Reynolds launched Longwood’s Chapter of Delta Phi Alpha, the German National Honor Society.
Budd has served as the gymnastics coach at Longwood University from 1977 to 1990.
McPherson is a Detroit native who previously taught at the University of the Virgin Islands and James Madison University.
Baseball Head Coach Buddy Bolding is also retiring this semester. Bolding has won over 935 games in his 35 seasons as Longwood’s head coach. Also, in 2009, the Baseball facility was dedicated as Charles “Buddy” Bolding Stadium.
According to a news release printed April 1 on the Longwood University website titled, “Retiring Faculty Honored,” Longwood recently honored five retiring professors with a campus reception. The professors included Daly, Reynolds, Budd and Bolding.
Two Art professors have already stated their plans for retirement by the end of the spring 2014 semester, including Randall Edmonson and Mark Baldridge, professors of Art.
Baldridge stated that he plans to continue teaching until the end of the 2013-2014 academic school year and stated he felt “happy. I’m looking forward to retiring. However, I am teaching to the end of next year.”
Baldridge shared, “I have seen Longwood change drastically over time."
He added, "It was dreary and in need of repair and maintenance. Then President [Patricia] Cormier made all the difference in the world and has elevated this campus a whole level.”
Concerning plans for after retirement, Baldridge said, “My house is my biggest artwork. So, after Longwood, I will continue to finish the house and get back to doing my other artwork, too, because I always have so many ideas. It’s been a good job, and you make an impact on a lot of people too.”
