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Dena Willmore ’67 became a Ripon College Trustee because, when asked to join the board, she thought she could make a difference for the College. She has learned a lot from the experiences being a Trustee has brought, including a different perspective of the College and what liberal arts is all about. In that sense, the College made a difference for her.
Being a Trustee has brought to Dena’s attention many of the challenges colleges and universities face including declining funds and enrollment. She has come up with ways to help Ripon College fight these hardships. She notes that some enrollment problems can be combated with better marketing. Dena feels there is a special need to express the benefits of a liberal-arts education to high school students and their families.
Ripon College is working hard to buck nationwide trends in declining enrollment, but Dena says more can be done. She says the programs offered need to be interesting and exciting to the students who may take them. According to her, Ripon not only has thought about this issue, but is also “sensitive to what kids are looking for and as best we can … we have been responding.”
The students are also responding. Dena notes that she enjoys seeing how the students shape and change the institution as well as working on shaping it herself. She likes what she sees students doing. The students, Dena explains, are smart and enthusiastic -- two words that may also be used to describe Dena herself.
When she isn’t working as a Trustee, Dena enjoys travel. Among her favorite regions to visit is South East Asia because of the slower pace of life there than is typical in the USA.
“Even when they’re going through difficult times, it’s very calm,” she says.
She also enjoys being active throughout her community, and generally, to find herself in situations that require her to stretch herself both intellectually and physically. Being a Trustee has fit the bill nicely.
She feels that Ripon is currently on an upward curve, but emphasizes that there is still much to be done.
“These last couple of years have been so exciting. It’s great to be part of a successful story. I feel blessed to have been a part of it.”
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