On the Town: College says goodbye to Dawn Lindsay
It’s always bittersweet when a community leader leaves town. All the more so when that leader has been so effective in steering the lives of college youth. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, superintendent/president of Glendale Community College, is moving on to take the reins of a community college back East. Glendale’s loss will be Maryland’s gain.
Lindsay’s last public appearance was at a farewell party in her honor Tuesday (June 26) at the Wine Cave in Montrose. “I leave with a lot of gratitude,” Lindsay said. Her college co-workers and supporters were out in force. Jill Lewis, college instructional services manager, was there with her boss, Mary Mirch, vice president of instructional services. Also present was the right-hand team to Lindsay, her secretary Sally Holmes and administrative assistant Anike Shishian.
More college VIPs were Foundation Executive Director Lisa Brooks, Jewel Price, dean of student services; Andrea Verstraete, director of governmental external relations; college Police Department Sgts. Samir Abou-Rass and Erin Kurasz; and college Trustee Tony Tartaglia.
Also on hand to say adieu to Lindsay was a contingent of Patrons Club members. First vice president Betty Musacco was there, as well as member Karen Wharton, in charge of the Patrons Club November fashion show. Lindsay was the club’s star on the fashion runway. “We’re losing our best model,” Wharton said.
Other community movers and shakers on hand included interim chief executive of Glendale Arts Elissa Glickman and Glendale residents and volunteers Sue and Steve Wilder.
Educator Jim Riggs has been tapped for the position of college interim president. Riggs comes from the education doctoral program at Cal State Stanislaus.
Members and guests of the Verdugo Glen chapter of the American Business Women’s Association kicked up their heels at their 49th Anniversary Hoedown. On Wednesday (June 27), the stuffed elk heads at the Glendale Elks Lodge looked down benignly as about 100 cowgirls and cowboys donned their western gear for a chuck wagon feast of ribs and chicken.
Forty-five minutes was devoted to networking as fits a business organization. Then came the vittles. Following dinner, chapter President Lynn White-Shelby kept the action moving after a quick business meeting. Event Chairman and Recording Secretary Loren West introduced the key players including her mother Glendale resident Linda West. Bernadette Nolan was acknowledged as a past president who served the organization in 1970-71. She also came the farthest — from St. Petersburg, Fla. Nolan did the anniversary cake-cutting honors.
Six student scholarship winners were also introduced. Three of the top awardees were Jessica Ban of Montrose, Roxana Ontiveros from Los Angeles and Christine Perez of El Monte. Ban is a UCLA student majoring in Environmental Science. Ontiveros is a student at Glendale Community College and Pasadena College. She plans to transfer to Wellesley College and study International Relations with an emphasis in empowering Latin women. Perez is a nursing student at Mt. San Antonio College. She wants to educate and treat parents in underprivileged areas. Each scholarship was between $300 and $350.
The Verdugo Glen chapter meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month for a dinner business meeting and professional development programs at the Glendale Elks Lodge.
The organization’s mission is to bring together business women of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to grow personally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.
RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.