Cassandra Enbody, 2021 Western Nevada College graduate, receives a hug from nursing instructor Edda Gibson during a drive-through commencement ceremony on the Carson City campus.
Diana Hilliard
Western Nevada College’s 2022 emeritus appointments clearly have two common denominators: their dedication and their long-term commitment to Western.
The six appointments add up to more than 135 years of service for WNC and its students during their tenure at the higher education institution.
Retired Darla Dodge, Budget Officer and Chief Financial Officer; Edda Gibson, Nursing Instructor; Dianne Hilliard, Director and Registrar of Admissions and Records; dr Robert Morin, political science professor; Lupe Ramirez, Founder and Coordinator of Latino Leadership Academy; and Troy Tingle, project manager for the Digital Campus Technology Media Group.
“We are very pleased that there is an opportunity to truly recognize and appreciate what these six individuals have done for Western Nevada College over the years,” said Niki Gladys, executive director of the WNC Foundation. “Their distinguished and extensive careers have made such a significant difference at this institution and we are pleased that they can retire with this honor and recognition.”
To be considered for appointment to emeritus status, appointees must have served at least 10 years as an academic or administrative faculty member and have a distinguished history of service to the college.
Dodge began working at WNC in 2001 as an administrative assistant at the Child Development Center and then became a key figure in the college’s budgeting and finances on campus over the next two decades. She served as Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services until 2002, Financial Analyst in 2010 and Budget Director in 2011.
Darla Dodge
While retaining her role as budget director, Dodge assumed the role of interim vice president of finance and administrative services in 2017 and the interim role of chief financial officer in 2019, while also providing long-term leadership and oversight of the child development center and bookstore. She is currently a part-time lecturer in management courses.
As a professor and instructor since 2004, Gibson has helped WNC’s nursing program become one of the best in the state and among the best in the West.
The longest-serving of this year’s emeritus appointments is Hilliard, who joined the WNC in 1987. She capped her career bringing students to the college as the Director and Registrar of Admissions and Records. She was also instrumental in making the college’s graduation ceremonies such a success.
Early in her WNC career, Hilliard oversaw student administration, served as a counselor, and was once the acting dean of student union.
The late dr. Morin began teaching at WNC in 2003 and quickly became an important and popular professor on campus. During his 18 years at the WNC, he contributed in many ways beyond teaching. He served as a coach, mentor and guide to many at this college. He has been a tireless and passionate advocate for all things WNC.
Because of his commitment to students, he has twice been voted Teacher/Instructor of the Year (2006 and 2018). But dr Morin meant a lot more to WNC and the college community. He was quick-witted, laughed often, and cared deeply about his colleagues.
dr Robert Morin
The WNC family lost this outstanding educator when he passed away last August.
Without Ramirez’s efforts, many first-generation Latino students would not have overcome their college barriers to attain associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and higher-paying professional jobs in the workforce.
Ramirez was credited with improving the WNC’s college graduation rate for the region’s Latino population in 2010 and helped found the Latino Cohort, which later became the Latino Leadership Academy. The program eases students’ transition from high school to college by helping them overcome cultural barriers and make them more successful students.
In 2018, Ramirez was named the Nevada ACT College and Career Readiness Postsecondary Champion, which honors individuals who make a positive impact on their communities through their efforts to advance college and career readiness. Two years earlier, WNC selected Ramirez as the winner of the Administrative Faculty of the Year award. She now serves as a trustee for K-12 students in the Carson City School District.
Tingle dedicated more than 12 years to college and has been involved in technology and digital workplaces. He started in 2009 as a media services coordinator and later became instructional technology manager and eventually project leader for the Digital Campus and Technology group.
Troy Tingle
Tingle was profiled by Quest Technology Management for the work he and the college have done in modernizing classroom technology.
Officers Emeritus are considered WNC employees for life. Emeritus recipients, their spouses, and dependent children are eligible for grant privileges. You are also eligible to attend certain department and college events, including WNC induction, and receive other employee-related benefits.
Lupe Ramirez, center, worked at WNC for more than 30 years and founded the Latino Leadership Academy.
