Washburn
University employee, Dee Pierson was honored with eminentes universitatis
status during a staff and faculty awards event April 17.
Pierson has worked in the residential living office for 31 years. From
occupying an office in Kuehne Hall to coordinating the front desk in the new
main office of the Living Learning Center, Pierson has supported the
residential living department through many changes over the years. While
originally using a typewriter to do reports, she now uses electronic imaging to
take housing applications. The differences in her job, include not merely going
from liquid paper to correction tape, but from growing in Washburn housing
occupancy from 254 students in 1981 to housing 700 students in 2011. Pierson
presence has been as much a part of the history of residential living as the
halls of Carruth, Kuehne, West and the Living Learning Center are on campus.
The number of directors, full-time staff, residential assistants and desk
assistant that have learned from Pierson’s vast institutional knowledge is
impressive, but not nearly as impressive, nor as heart-warming, as the number
of students and parents she has helped over the years. Pierson will retire this
summer.
Washburn University awards the honor to individuals who have been an
administrative or classified employee of Washburn University for a period of 10
years or more and effective July 1, 1991 and after, employees must have
employment contracts of 1,000 hours or more per year of service to the
University to be eligible. Individuals who retire from the university in good
standing after 10 years are also eligible for nomination.
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Amanda Hughes, (785) 670-2153
