By Megan Shearin
The imprint of supportive faculty who encouraged, motivated and exemplified successful mentoring to students during their pursuit of academic, career and life goals left a lasting impression on the six alumni chosen to receive the 2018 Darden Alumni Fellows Award.
The small, elite group of alumni - hailing from each of the departments within the Darden College of Education at Old Dominion University - were inducted on Thursday, Feb. 22 during a special luncheon and awards ceremony hosted by Dean Jane S. Bray. The award recognizes outstanding alumni for their professional accomplishments and contributions to the community.
"I want you to know how very special you are, how much we honor you and how highly selected you are from the faculty within our College" said Bray in her welcoming remarks. "I hope today you leave here knowing and feeling how special you are and how proud we are to have you as our graduates out in the community and working in your professions."
To date, there are 42 Darden Fellows from of a pool of more than 36,000 college alumni.
Dr. Megan Healy, who was appointed by Governor Ralph Northam as the Chief Workforce Development Advisor, recognized and thanked the Community College Leadership program for their steadfast support and creative programming.
"When I think about access to education, I think about my Ph.D. program," said Healy. At the time, she was residing on the southwestern border in Virginia and enrolled through the online program.
Dr. Steve Myran served as Healy's dissertation committee chair in 2012. He introduced Healy to the audience by reflecting on the special relationship he formed with his former pupil.
"I think Megan learned a lot in the program," recalled Myran. "And I learned as much from her in the process."
Some 45 years ago Anthony J. DiFilippo, affectionately known as Tony, was a bellman in Florida. After an inauspicious start in the hotel business, he became a general manager working in ten different cities throughout the United States. In February 2001, DiFilippo became the President and CEO of the Norfolk Convention and Visitor's Bureau, known as VisitNorfolk, before retiring in March 2018.
DiFilippo lauded Old Dominion for the research and instrumental role the university has played in shaping the development of the City of Norfolk.
"I am so proud and so honored for the award, and so deeply indebted to ODU," he said.
A 1976 graduate of the counseling program, G.W. Thompson was described by Department Chair Dr. Jeff Moe as an inspiring administrator who cares about helping people find their purpose in life.
Thompson, who worked at ODU for numerous years, praised Dr. Nina Brown for her epic, long-lasting philosophy of mentorship.
"Dr. Brown was one of my mentors during my time in the program and continued to mentor me throughout my professional career," said Thompson. "When encountering a challenge, I knew I could always go to Dr. Brown."
Even when Thompson's wife passed, the professors from the program were there, he said.
Dr. Lauren Wingfield Collins echoed her feelings of gratitude for faculty relationships, describing herself as lucky for having a faculty advisor who invested in her growth.
"I would walk out of meetings with Bob Gable caring a huge pack of papers and literature, and really good advice," recalled Wingfield. After graduating in 2014, she began her career in higher education as an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii, where she teaches classes on evidence-based literacy instruction for students with high-incidence disabilities.
"Other people always believed more in me and my abilities than I do in myself," she added. "I was incredibly blessed for to learn from such incredible and supportive faculty."