Elon’s 2020-21 staff retirees recognized

Elon University is celebrating 12 staff members who are retiring after years of dedicated service to the campus community.

Terry Buckley

Assistant to the Dean of the Carol Grotnes Belk Library

Terry Buckley joined the Elon community in 1998 as assistant to the dean of the Carol Grotnes Belk Library, a position she held her entire 23-year career at the university. Buckley has too many memories to count in her two decades at Elon, responding “all things Elon” when asked about her favorite memory.

Buckley will begin retirement on May 28, 2021, and is excited to “enjoy life with less responsibilities.”

Jan Fuller

University Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement

Jan Fuller came to Elon as university chaplain in September 2011. Fuller was tasked with building a multifaith center on campus, the Numen Lumen Pavilion, and creating a multifaith program for religious and spiritual life.

Fuller leaves Elon with many fond memories like the time she got to place an image of the world’s religions on the Oculus and pray from atop a cherry picker crane to offer the space as a place of prayer for all on President Connie Ledoux Book’s inauguration day in 2018. She says Elon’s wonderful students, faculty and staff are what she’ll miss most about campus.

Having totaled 40 years as a chaplain at Yale, Hollins and Elon University, Fuller is believed to be the longest-serving chaplain in the nation. Fuller will officially retire from Elon on May 31. Although Fuller looks forward to life after Elon, she’s only planning to slow down a little.

“I plan to stop setting my morning alarm, to write about four decades of university chaplaincy, to finish my book on the spiritual meaning of grief, to publish a book of prayers, to travel, to spend time with my mother, and to continue to support the work of the Association of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education,” Fuller said. “I expect to continue to find ways to be useful to my own spiritual community, local and global interfaith movements, and to live for peace in the world.”

In June, Fuller and her spouse will move to Roanoke, Virginia, where she hopes to take part in a number of activities that bring her joy.

Greg Marshall

Manager – First Shift Environmental Services

Greg Marshall is an Elon alumnus and played football at the institution in the late 70s. Following graduation, Marshall went on to work for U.S. Air. In 2005, Marshall returned to Elon as a member of Physical Plant’s environmental services staff.

Marshall will now get to enjoy retirement from his alma mater and the place he’s served as an employee for the past 16 years.

Mary Morrison

Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Mary Morrison arrived at Elon in 2006 to serve as the Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. The role gave her an opportunity work directly with undergraduates on community and civic engagement.

During her time at Elon, she grew the program from two full-time professional staff members to six full-time professionals and a graduate apprentice. Student leadership increased from 20 students to 80 students planning, implementing and evaluating co-curricular opportunities for the entire student body. Consistently recognized on the Presidential Honor Roll, Elon has been recognized as the #2 program in the nation for service-learning by U.S. News and World Report for the past two years.

One of Morrison’s favorite memories is co-chairing the committee to establish the Staff Advisory Council with Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant Tom Flood. Her greatest joy is staying in touch with hundreds of students as they establish their careers and families. She will miss her colleagues and co-workers and the students who have taught her so much.

In her retirement, Morrison plans to continue her efforts to register voters, facilitate dialogues and be an active member of her community. Her family and friends are eager to have her join them for fun and relaxation.

Vivian Ratliff

Program Assistant – Corporate and Employer Relations, Student Professional Development Center

Vivian Ratliff came to Elon in 2003. She says she had always wanted to work in an academic environment and specifically wanted to do so at a prestigious university. In her 18 years at Elon, Ratliff has held program assistant positions in Multicultural Affairs, Health Services and finally the Student Professional Development Center.

Ratliff will retire from the university on May 31 and says she will most miss the camaraderie she had with colleagues and opportunities for fellowship with Elon students. In retirement, Ratliff plans to spend time with family and friends, join a fitness group and take some classes.

Barbara Walsh

Senior Project Manager for Provost and Academic Affairs

Barbara Walsh joined the Elon community in 1994 after moving to the area from Bel Air, Maryland. Walsh began her career at Elon as support staff to the dean of arts and humanities and vice president for planning. In 1997, Walsh transitioned into the Office of the Provost/Academic Affairs, where she has worked for the past 24 years and currently serves as senior project manager for provost and academic affairs.

Walsh will officially retire on May 31. In retirement, she’ll be traveling to national parks with her husband, spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends, and “living life to the fullest.”

Gloria Wilder

Human Resources Assistant

Gloria Wilder came to Elon in November 1998. As human resources assistant, Wilder worked at the Office of Human Resources front desk and handled all new hire paperwork and life-status changes, and worked extensively with sick or injured Elon employees, checking in on them throughout the FMLA process until they were better and back at work.

Wilder’s colleagues know her for her love of music and for caring deeply about each of them and their lives. They wish her all the best in retirement after more than two decades at Elon.

David Worden

Director of Environmental Services, Physical Plant

After 17 years of service to Elon University, Dave Worden will retire on May 31. Worden came to Elon from Ohio in 2004. After learning about the open manager of environmental services position, Worden and his family passed through Elon following a vacation near Pawleys Island, South Carolina. That’s when Worden met then-Physical Plant director Ed Eng and was given an offer to take the position, which he happily accepted to be closer to family members living in North Carolina.

The position was later retitled to director of environmental services, a role Worden kept for all 17 years at Elon. Worden says he is proud to have served the university for nearly two decades alongside a great team.

“Over the years, I was blessed to have worked for, with and around some of the most inspiring, dedicated and focused individuals anywhere on the planet,” Worden said. “From the amazing vision of our leadership; to staff within my own department; to all others from the various departments throughout campus, I will miss that competitive spirit that pushed us to make Elon one of the best universities in the country.”

In retirement, Worden plans to spend plenty of time traveling. He says he is going to “trailer the motorcycle out west and ride through some of the most beautiful areas this country has to offer. Eventually, head over to Europe, visit my daughter for a few months, rent a BMW motorcycle and do the same,” Worden said.