CELEBRATING WITH RETIRING FACULTY AND STAFF Retirement is a milestone that many look forward to marking. When that occasion comes after years of service at the same organization, it is all the more worthy of celebration to honour the commitment and impact of an individual over the course of their career. This spring that celebration multiplies, as Crandall University marks the retirement of six long-serving members of the community. Together, these retirees have dedicated more than 150 years of service to the University’s students.
Dr. Wendy Bokhorst-Heng
Wendy Bokhorst-Heng started at Crandall in August of 2010, and for the last 11 years she has served in the Faculty of Education. Dr. BokhorstHeng’s work at Crandall has and will continue to have a lasting impact on the University’s education program. Her development of an ongoing research agenda that focuses on French Immersion education, cultural mediation, and intercultural competence has brought her into the offices of stakeholders in the Department of Education and principals around the District. In addition, Wendy was instrumental in the development of an after-school writing club in local elementary schools and started the Human Library here at Crandall, which has gone on to be a memorable and much anticipated event since its inception in 2012. When asked to share one of her favourite memories from her time at Crandall, Wendy was quick to share a story of Seth Crowell, along with Janet Williston and her husband Steve, picking her and her family up from the airport after a 28 hour flight from Singapore at around one in the morning. “This spoke to the sense of family, the heart of Crandall, and the extent they would go to make me feel welcome.”
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Debbie MacPhail
Debbie MacPhail started at Crandall in the fall of 2003 and has held a number of different roles throughout her 18 years, including working in Student Development, Campus Housing, and most recently in Student Learning Services. Debbie has occupied a very special space as a Crandall staff member as all of her roles have focused heavily on students and student interaction, and she has connected with students across nearly every program over the years. Due to this, Debbie considers one of the most significant accomplishments of her career to be the opportunities she’s had to be invited into the lives of students and serve as a listening ear and encourager. Debbie shared that, of all of her cherished memories at Crandall, Convocation days were her favourite. “That’s the day that everyone is at their happiest,” said Debbie. “The challenges students have faced during their time at Crandall have ultimately led to a great celebration of their academic and personal accomplishments.”
Dr. Stephen Dempster
Dr. Dempster started his 37-year career at Crandall in August of 1984. Inside the classroom and out, he has been heavily inolved in the Crandall community, from academic roles like the Murray Chair, bringing in various scholars to the University to lecture, to starting the Crandall Baseball team and serving as Coach and Manager for a decade! Steve considers one of his greatest accomplishments to be facilitating a love for the Old Testament in his students, several of which have gone on to further study in the topic and even become Professors themselves.
