December 4, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

17-YEAR FACULTY MEMBER ANN ORWIN TO RETIRE
Public Reception to be held at MCCC on Dec. 13th

MONROE, Mich. – Ann Orwin, a full-time faculty member at Monroe County Community College faculty for 17 years, will retire from her position as assistant professor of English, education and journalism effective January 4.

Orwin, of Carleton, began teaching as an adjunct instructor at the college in 1986 and accepted a full-time appointment in 1990.  Prior to that, she taught English as an adjunct instructor for St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron.  She also taught English and vocal music for 10 years at Croswell-Lexington Schools in Croswell.

 “Ann’s teaching accomplishments at MCCC have been recognized through multiple nominations for the Outstanding Faculty Award,” said Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction. “She is known among her colleagues and students for many activities that reach beyond the walls of the classroom.”

For years, Orwin organized annual theater field trips for students to the Stratford Festival Theater in Ontario and Wayne State University’s Hillberry Theater.

In the spring, she joined two other MCCC faculty members in organizing and leading a study abroad trip for 32 students to various cities in England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany.  The students, who toured museums, cathedrals and other educational sites while in Europe, received nine credit hours by attending classes on campus before and after the trip, in addition to 17 days of study overseas.

For a number of years, Orwin served as an adviser to the staff of MCCC’s student newspaper, The Agora.

“Ann Orwin – through her enthusiasm, passion for teaching and love for the humanities – is a shining example of the strong learning relationships our faculty members foster with our students,” said MCCC President Dr. David Nixon.  “Just recently, I met with a student who commented on what it meant to have Ann as an instructor.  Learning relationships such as these provide positive outcomes for both our students and our faculty and are valued by both.”

At its regular meeting yesterday, MCCC’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Orwin for her extraordinary contribution to the college community and, by the president’s recommendation, granted her faculty emeritus status.

“I honestly can’t think of a job I could have loved more than mine at MCCC,” Orwin said.  “I believe so strongly in the services we at the community-college level provide.  I have always been so proud, when people ask me where I work, to say MCCC because this is just a wonderful environment for learning.  I think we work so well together as a team – from the support staff, to maintenance staff, to faculty and administration – to meet the needs of our students and our community.

“I treasure the fact that we are a teaching institution as opposed to four-year schools where the emphasis is often on research.  I love to teach and I could not have found a more wonderful place to do that.”

Orwin said that in her retirement, she plans to spend time with her grandchildren – her first granddaughter was born two years ago, and she has two grandchildren on the way.  She also is looking forward to volunteering at the local hospital and in the public schools, and hopefully, as a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts.   She loves singing, traveling, reading, gardening, cross country skiing, rollerblading and tennis and looks forward to having lots of extra time to do all of those things.   

The college will recognize Orwin during a retirement reception on December 13 from 3-5 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center atrium.  The reception is open to the public.