NEWS RELEASE

News Bureau . Schofield Hall 201 . Eau Claire, WI 54702
phone: (715) 836-4741
fax: (715) 836-2900

EAU CLAIRE - Thirteen members of the classified staff at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will retire during this academic year.

• Carol Duffenbach, a financial program supervisor in Business Services, retired in March after 36 years of service to UW-Eau Claire. Duffenbach began her career in 1967 as a typist 2. She held various positions, including clerk, account executive, account specialist and account specialist supervisor. She received 20 performance awards during her career.
• Penny France, a human resources manager-advanced in Human Resources, will retire after 26 years of service. France began her university career in 1977 as a stenographer in the sociology department. In the 1980s, she worked in the McIntyre Library and took classes. A non-traditional student and single mother, France earned bachelor's and master's degrees. In 1989, she joined Human Resources as a personnel manager.
• Loris Akervik, a program assistant 3 in the curriculum and instruction department, retired in November 2002 after 22 years of service. She came to UW-Eau Claire in 1980 as a typist in elementary education. In the early 1980s, Akervik worked in the College of Arts and Sciences, moving to curriculum and instruction in 1983. She moved through the program assistant series, holding program assistant 3 and department secretary positions until she retired. She served two terms on the Classified Staff Committee.
• Tom Thorson, a heating, ventilating and air conditioning specialist in Facilities Planning and Management, retired in December 2002 after 26 years of service. He came to UW-Eau Claire as a maintenance mechanic 2 in 1976. He became a maintenance mechanic 3 in 1985 and HVAC specialist in 1996. In 1986, he earned a State of Wisconsin Certificate of Commendation for a masonry saw vacuum attachment that improved efficiency.
• John Stanford, an upholsterer in Housing and Residence Life, will retire in May after 26 years of service to UW-Eau Claire. Stanford came to UW-Eau Claire as a facilities repair worker 1 in 1977. In 1980, he became an upholsterer. He received a State of Wisconsin award in 1980 for a suggestion about fireproofing draperies in residence halls.
• Elaine Studt, a program assistant 1 in the Continuing Education-Indianhead Arts Center, retired in March after 25 years of service to UW-Eau Claire and the Indianhead Arts Center. Studt came to the university in 1978 as a typist. In 1986, she was named a program assistant 1.
• Georgia Hogg, a student status examiner 1 in the School of Education, retired in December 2002 after 32 years of service to UW-Eau Claire. Hogg came to the university in 1970 as a typist 2 in the Registrar's Office. She moved to the School of Education in 1979. She was reclassified as a student status examiner in 1984.
• Dan Wald, a custodian 3 in University Centers, retired in December 2002 after 26 years of service to UW-Eau Claire. Wald began his career at the university in 1976 as a custodian 2 in Facilities Planning and Management. He was promoted to custodian 3 in 1978 and transferred to University Centers in 1978.
• Carolyn Jones, an equal employment opportunity specialist in Affirmative Action, will retire in June after 12 years of service. She joined the university in 1991 as a typist in the University Bookstore. In 1996, she became a program assistant 3 and transferred to Affirmative Action. She became an equal employment opportunity specialist in 1999
• Florence Clickner, a program assistant in the communication disorders department, will retire in May after 17 years of service. Clickner came to the university in 1986, working in the special education department. She later worked in the history and social work departments. She joined the staff in the communication disorders department in 1988.
• Darlene Wagner, a custodian 2 in Facilities Planning and Management and in McIntyre Library, will retire in July after 18 years of service. She joined the university in 1985.
• Yvonne McCarty, a program assistant 2 in business communications and management information systems, will retire in May after 20 years of service. She came to UW-Eau Claire in 1983 as a program assistant 1 in communication disorders. She became a program assistant 2 and moved to special education in 1986. In 1996, she transferred to business communication and MIS.
• Carol Chan, an information specialist supervisor in Computing and Networking Services, retired in July 2002 after 28 years of service. Chan began her university career in 1974 as a management information technician 3. She was promoted several times, progressing through the management information specialist series 1-6. She became a management information supervisor in 1993, and an information specialist supervisor in 1997. She consistently received meritorious performance awards for her work.
  
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  JB

Judy Berthiaume, Director
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield 201
(715) 836-4741
newsbur@uwec.edu

Updated: May 23, 2003