Two Baker University staff members submitted their resignations this summer. <br/>Counseling Center Director Kelly Bowers and Vice President for Marketing Annette Galluzzi are both leaving the Baker community.Counseling Center Director Kelly Bowers and Vice President for Marketing Annette Galluzzi are both leaving the Baker community.
Counseling Center Director Kelly Bowers and Vice President for Marketing Annette Galluzzi are both leaving the Baker community.
Bowers, who has been working at Baker for two years, said her reason for leaving is strictly personal.
“My husband accepted a wonderful job opportunity, which requires us to relocate to Ann Arbor, Michigan,” Bowers said. “We have a lot of family in Michigan and this was a chance for us to be close to them.”
Public Relations Director Steve Rottinghaus said Bowers would be on campus through Sept. 19, to allow the university to find a replacement.
"The position is so important as we start the school year," Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said. "It's very important to me to have plans for someone in place as she transitions."<br/>Bailey said Bowers' position is particularly important as new students arrive on campus.Bailey said Bowers' position is particularly important as new students arrive on campus.
Bailey said Bowers’ position is particularly important as new students arrive on campus.
“We have a small window to make those outreaches,” she said.
For this reason, Bailey took immediate action upon hearing of Bowers’ resignation.
“We went into immediate search mode,” she said.
After doing phone interviews for the position, Bailey said two candidates were selected and have been on campus throughout the week.
Dr. Tim Hodges, of the Moody Bible Institute, and Dr. John Wade, from the University of Kansas, were greeted this week by the Baker University community – including Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, and Brett Bruner, director of greek life and health education.
Despite Bowers’ decision to leave the university, she said her experience here was nothing short of positive.
“I loved working at Baker. The students exceeded my expectations,” she said. “They were interesting and fun to be around. I felt lucky to be so supported by the faculty, staff and administration. I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything, and I will miss the students and my colleagues a great deal.”
Even though Bowers is leaving Baker, Health Center Assistant Debbie Guenther said she did a lot for Baker.
“She was great to work with. She was very kind and considerate,” Guenther said. “She was always available to students and to me and was very open to talk to anybody who came in.”
Unlike Bowers, no candidates have been selected from outside for Galluzzi’s position.
“The president is still sorting through,” Joanne Tolkoff, multimedia designer and special projects coordinator, said of the position. “I would expect a decision within the next few weeks.”
Until then, Tolkoff said she is assuming Galluzzi’s leadership responsibilities and is serving as interim director of the marketing department.
“I’ve been at Baker for about 20 years,” Galluzzi said. “We just launched a new brand. I feel like I have accomplished everything I can accomplish at Baker over 20 years.”
Rottinghaus said Galluzzi’s last day was Aug. 15, and that she had announced her resignation to University President Pat Long earlier this summer.
"I'm still consulting with Baker to help with the transition," Galluzzi said.<br/>She also is teaching Fundamentals of Public Relations at night this semester, which has roughly 10 students enrolled.She also is teaching Fundamentals of Public Relations at night this semester, which has roughly 10 students enrolled.
She also is teaching Fundamentals of Public Relations at night this semester, which has roughly 10 students enrolled.
Tolkoff, who has worked with Galluzzi throughout her career here, said she will miss her creativity and inspiration.
“It was a very creative environment,” Tolkoff said. “I think she really pushed us to do our best on a creative level, so it was very exciting in that way. She was always coming up with ideas and moving us forward constantly. There was never any sense of stagnation.”
Galluzzi, a Baker alumna, said she simply is ready to explore other options.
“I wouldn’t have been here 20 years if I hadn’t enjoyed it,” she said. “I think I really felt committed to Baker’s mission and the impact that Baker has on people’s lives. I just enjoyed the fact that I could make a difference for Baker. It’s a small enough organization in which one person can make a very large impact.”
