Posted March 12 - When meeting with alumni, Renee and I love to ask and hear about the people who meant the most to them while at Manchester. For older alumni, the names include well-known faculty at Manchester: Paul Keller, David Waas, Emerson Niswander, Gladdys Muir and others. Sometimes graduates name staff who were formative: dean of students and coach Paul “Jake” Hoffman, coach Claude Wolfe and custodian Dave Friermood come to mind.

Noah Shively, the head of Manchester’s grounds crew, shaped my experience at Manchester. He taught me how to drive a stick shift (the College’s old dump truck) and woke me at 4 a.m. on stormy winter days to help shovel snow off the sidewalks. He was a quiet man and taught me about dignity, character and patience.

Manchester abounds with mentors today. Faculty play pivotal roles in the classroom, but also as academic advisors, research collaborators, choral and instrumental group directors, and vocational sounding boards. Our students also connect with club sponsors, coaches, custodial and physical plant staff, Success Center coaches and others.

This connecting – at a deeply personal level – reflects our missional commitment to respect the infinite worth of every individual and the individual commitment of each person who serves here to help our students succeed.