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.”

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.

When asked about his favourite memory, Steve turned to scripture, explaining how Psalm 46 has been a verse he’s repeatedly turned to through valleys in his and other’s lives, and expressing how amazing it is, what God does with His word.

Retiring Alumni

Dr. Dennis Bustin ‘86

Dr. Dennis Bustin started teaching at Crandall parttime in 1990, eventually taking on a full-time role in 1997. A former student (BA ‘86) and incredibly passionate about the University, Dennis was deeply involved in campus life, from the Baptist Historical Committee, to the chapel ministry, to the men’s basketball team!

Like Debbie, Dennis considers his most significant accomplishment to be making a difference in and impacting students’ lives, saying “the relationships I built over the years with students and faculty have been rewarding and well worth the effort and experience!” He also expressed difficulty choosing a favourite memory, listing several student and faculty favourites like Fall Foliage Day, Faculty Retreats, and Christmas Banquets.

Dennis also recalls forging a relationship with a mature international student from Kenya that he holds very dear. “He was a wonderful student who became a special friend of mine and my family.”

Ivan Douthwright ‘79

Ivan Douthwright’s first day at Crandall was September 1st, 1985, meaning he has worked for the institution for 36 years. While Ivan’s official title is University Librarian, he has been known to lend his services wherever they might be needed, including to the Academic Council and Senate, the Baptist Heritage Center Committee, the Atlantic Provinces Library Association (he was President from 2007-2009),

Throughout Ivan’s career at Crandall, he has dealt with library automation, changing library systems three different times, and transitioning to the Library of Congress system, all of which he considers to be some of his greatest career accomplishments. That 36-year span also means that Ivan was present for the move from the Salisbury Road campus, and has overseen the George A. Rawlyk Library from the day the first books arrived at the Gorge Road. Recently Ivan shared that his favourite memory from his time at Crandall was doing the Macarena with fellow staff and faculty at a gathering in 1996. He has also greatly appreciated all of the heartwarming comments from students in the weeks leading up to his retirement.

Dr. Seth Crowell ‘73

Last, but certainly not least, Dr. Seth Crowell started at Crandall on September 1st, 1979 and has worked at the University for 42 years. Seth’s first two years as a faculty member were as a Lecturer filling in for Dr. Gary Leblanc who was on sabbatical. In the fall of 1981, Seth assumed the role of Registrar while continuing to teach six courses a year, until the winter of 2000 when he was appointed Vice-President for Academic Affairs, a role he held for fourteen years before returning to full-time teaching. Seth also acted as unofficial Athletics Director for the first seventeen years of his career, coaching men’s and women’s softball and basketball, as well as men’s hockey!

Of all of Seth’s significant contributions to the University over the last four decades, he feels his greatest to be any influence he might have had in hiring various faculty and staff over the years. Seth also played a part in introducing intensive courses, which were ultimately integrated into the Degree Completion program and later into Crandall’s graduate programs, making them both more flexible. When asked about his favourite memories from his years at Crandall, Seth expressed a love for Convocation, especially those with special significance, like his daughter’s. Others include the last ceremony held at First Baptist Moncton and the first one on our Gorge Road campus.