April 11, 2007
Dear Oles:
On Monday, May 7, 2007, as faculty and staff gather to honor and celebrate the colleagues who are retiring from our College, we will be joined by the Dean of Community Life and Diversity, Dr. Eida Berrío, not only in her role as organizer of this event, but as one of the retirees.
You are perhaps as surprised by this news as I was a week ago when Eida spoke to me about her desire to reorient her time and energy in the next few years so that she can spend more time with her family. Eida has served our College for six years in a critical role, and her contributions to all aspects of our community life have been far-reaching. I know you will miss her, and so will I. St. Olaf is a more diverse community, in all of the meanings of that rich word, because of her work here.
Meanwhile, it is important to insure continuity in the areas and programs Eida has been supervising. She and I and her staff will be working closely to make that happen. This is also the time to think about how we can best propel the work of this office, and I will be asking a group of colleagues to help me think that through in the next couple of months so that we can then proceed expeditiously with a search for Eida’s successor.
We will have many opportunities between now and the end of May individually to express to Eida our thanks and regards. I hope each of you will seize that opportunity when the time is right for you.
Sincerely,
David R. Anderson '74
