Melinda Dalgarn retires as vice chancellor at Purdue U. Calumet
Purdue University Calumet Chronicle
December 6, 2010
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Melinda Dalgarn announced her decision to retire effective June 30, 2011 on Friday, Dec. 3.
Chancellor Howard Cohen said he is confident a search committee will look for Dalgarn's replacement. However, he added this will be the decision for the next chancellor, since it will be the new chancellor who will be working alongside the replacement. He has not yet turned his attention to selecting an interim vice chancellor and will address the issue during the spring semester.
Dalgarn said she and her twin sister agreed a few years ago they would retire together. Her sister retired in June, but Dalgarn was unable to retire just yet.
She explained to her sister PUC had to get another year of Phase II housing under their belts, the athletic expansion was in its infancy and the veterans' program was new. Now that everything is set in place, she said it is time for her to retire.
Dalgarn, who has been with PUC since June of 2006, began her career in higher education as a resident adviser as a sophomore at Lewis and Clark College. She then spent 23 years in student affairs at Vanderbilt University, was the vice president for student affairs at Mercer University and served as the interim executive director of the Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University.
"In many ways, Purdue Calumet has been the best place I've ever worked. There is a real passion and commitment among the staff and faculty that I have thoroughly enjoyed," she said.
According to Cohen's memo, Dalgarn contributed to the development of residential student housing, Spring Break-thru, the co-curricular transcript for students and Student Convocation. She also expanded intercollegiate and intramural athletic programs, PUC's Boots to Books veterans program, technological advances in Career Services and numerous other initiatives.
