Partings
Penn State Intercom......November 15, 2001

Associate professor says
goodbye after 33
distinguished years

Samuel C. DeWald, associate professor of management development with Penn State Management Development Programs and Services, has retired after 33 years of service with the Division of Continuing Education.

DeWald distinguished himself throughout his career through his expertise in time management and marketing strategy and planning, as well as his dedication to teaching. In keeping with his goal of providing academic knowledge to business professionals, he taught on-site courses at more than 150 companies and nonprofit organizations throughout the commonwealth and the nation. He also developed and taught for the international training program aimed at managers and business owners from around the world.

DeWald's association with Penn State began in 1960, when he began working as a part-time continuing education instructor for The Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal College of Business Administration at the Reading Center. Later, he became the evening school administrator for Penn State Berks, where he helped expand outreach activity. In 1971, he joined the Management Development faculty. He returned to University Park in 1990 upon his appointment as director of Management Development.

He earned his bachelor of science degree in economics from Albright College in 1957, his master of business administration from New York University in 1961 and his master of science in education from Temple University in 1962. He pursued doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

During his retirement, DeWald plans to continue his active life. He still teaches part-time for Management Development, consults with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and volunteers his marketing expertise with the Reading AIDS Network through Penn State Berks. He also is president of a German culture club in the Reading area and co-owns a restaurant with his daughter.

Continuing Education director
retires after 31 years

Ronald Avillion, director of the State College Office of Continuing Education, has retired after 31 years of service.

Avillion joined the University as a conference coordinator in 1970. In 1986, he was named head of the State College Office of Continuing Education, and he spent the next 15 years managing the overall growth of continuing education programs by increasing the number of students served and courses offered.

Avillion and his staff developed a number of new educational offerings, including the master of counselor education with an emphasis in chemical dependency degree program, the post-baccalaureate pre-medical certification program and the Webmaster certificate program, among others.

Under Avillion's direction, several satellite offices were established within his responsibility to meet the needs of adult learners throughout central Pennsylvania: the Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension in Lewistown, which was the first office of its kind in the state to combine continuing education and cooperative extension services; the Office of Continuing Education at the Pennsylvania College of Technology; and the Office of Information Technology Programs and Services at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

He also helped develop the Leadership Centre County program, which selects area residents for yearlong leadership training, and the Community Academy for Lifelong Learning, a nonprofit educational organization for senior citizens in the Centre Region.

Avillion received his bachelor of science degree in health and physical education in 1965 and his master of education degree in 1966 from Penn State.

During his retirement, Avillion plans to work as a real estate agent.

Budget office manager retires
after more than 41 years

Mary Alice Miller, manager, systems planning and design for the University Budget Office, retired Sept. 30, after serving the University for more than 41 years.

Miller began her career with the University in 1960 as a statistical clerk in the College of Agricultural Sciences. In 1969, she transferred to instructional services; in 1979, she joined the University Budget Office as an applications programmer analyst. In 1997, she was promoted to manager, systems planning and design.

During her time in the University Budget Office, she contributed to the development of numerous systems to comply with state and federal reporting requirements. She was a key participant with the original team to develop and implement the IBIS systems. More recently, she was instrumental in the enhancement and support of IBIS.

In her retirement, Miller plans to travel, spend time with her family and friends, and develop her many interests.

Religious studies faculty
member taught 30 years

After more than 30 years at Penn State Delaware County, Bruce Stephens, associate professor of religious studies, will be retiring with emeritus rank at the end of the fall semester.

Stephens joined the campus in 1970 as the only religious studies professor at a location other than University Park in the Penn State system. His main duties at the campus were to offer a wide variety of courses in religious studies that would meet the general education needs of his students. He has been a member of the religious study faculty at the University longer than any other faculty member.

In retirement, Stephens plans to spend time with his grandchildren, enjoy his 60-acre Gravel Spring Farm in Crawford County and keep busy with a variety of activities.

Stephens received his bachelor's degree from Allegheny College, master of divinity degree from The Theological School of Drew University and his doctorate from the Graduate School of Drew University. His scholarly and research interests include religion in American culture; 18th and 19th century theology in America; and modern Christian thought.

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