While we understand the necessity of restructuring the administration of the university due to extensive budget cuts, we feel that Gretchen Stephens' dismissal is a devastating loss to our university community. She has not only been a supervisor to us, she has been a mentor both professionally and personally. Furthermore, we are not the only students and staff who have been touched by Gretchen's benevolence in serving as a teacher and as an administrator.
As the meeting and conference planning instructor, Gretchen not only helps her students develop the ability to coordinate events, she also fosters interpersonal communication skills necessary to working effectively with others in any workplace. Through her compassionate direction of the staff within the Office of University Events, she has created a community in which well-maintained lines of communication have allowed friendships and teamwork to flourish. As this year's interns in this office, we are fortunate, like those before us, to learn in this environment, developing communication skills and interpersonal intuition that cannot be taught by a textbook or lecture. Gretchen has been caring enough to help prepare us to navigate the waters of the real world, for example, by coming in on a Saturday morning after working more than 40 hours that week to help us craft resumes and cover letters that will gain employers' attention.
Although Ohio University has a lot to offer, this area has limited opportunities for students interested in the event planning field. The experience and responsibility that Gretchen provides her interns and students is the best resource we could possibly receive on this campus and within this community,
Finally, Gretchen has also instituted new ways of staging the production of traditions at this institution to properly celebrate the unique experience of Ohio University. For example, without her, Commencement would not have its sense of pomp and circumstance that encompasses the recognition of the esteem deserved by earning a degree.
Gretchen is truly one-of-a-kind, and we hope that you will recognize her presence on this campus is irreplaceable.
Megan Brown, Sandi Combs, Marisa Grill, Quinn McBee and Jenna Miller signed this letter.
4 Opinion
