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Appreciating MBU’s Retirees and Service Award Recipients

MBU recognizes its retirees and years-of-service award recipients in increments of five years.

Hunt Dining Hall sitting atop Hunt Hill

Mary Baldwin University is proud to recognize the service of its 2024 retirees and the year’s service award recipients. This year’s retirees comprise lifelong faculty, long-term staff, and some who found MBU as a place to end their careers — all important members of the Mary Baldwin community who will be sorely missed by their students, coworkers, and colleagues!

Bruce Dorries

Bruce Dorries began his tenure at Mary Baldwin in 2000, holding various roles including associate professor of communication and faculty member at the Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement. His volunteer efforts are extensive, marking him as a community-oriented individual. He was a founder of Friends of the Middle River and Staunton Green 2020, a board member of Earth Day Staunton and the Learn English and Reading Now program, an educator at Project Grows, and a participant in several other community groups including the WMRA Community Board, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, and climate activist groups like Th!rd Act.

Dorries’ time at the Spencer Center stands out as the most gratifying and meaningful of his professional life, not just for him but also for his family. His children grew up there, surrounded by students from abroad, which he recalls with fondness. He also mentions learning valuable lessons from his mentor, Dr. Brenda Bryant.

As he approaches retirement, Dorries plans to continue his climate activism with various groups like the Virginia Conservation Network and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. He is also managing a 33-acre conservation farm and involved in several community service projects, including work with Emmanuel Episcopal Church (along with Professor Emeritus Jim Lott) and the Virginia Haiti Collaborative. What he will miss most about Mary Baldwin is the learning experience with students and colleagues, the community of educators, and working with his son, Mitchell.

Whit Worman

Whit Worman joined Murphy Deming as a clinical education expert in 2017, and has served as the director of clinical education and as an assistant professor in the PA program since. She earned her bachelor of science degree in education with a minor in math and science from the University of Dayton, Dayton OH. She received her surgical physician assistant degree from Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH, graduating first in her class. Her master of physician assistant studies was completed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, with an educational theory focus.

Worman spent the vast majority of her PA career in surgical subspecialties, finishing her surgical career as a cardiothoracic PA. In addition, after her surgical career, she practiced in cardiology, family medicine and behavioral health. The past 10 years she has worked in PA education, holding positions as program director, director of academic education, and director of clinical education.

Linda Fretwell

Linda Fretwell’s time at Mary Baldwin has been marked by her dedication and care for the institution and her colleagues. After more than 33 years at MBU, Fretwell’s vast institutional knowledge has been a boon for her coworkers and will be sorely missed, though not as much as Fretwell herself. In her office, Fretwell is a trusted advisor, a steadfast coworker, and an integral part of the MBU Student Accounts team. 

Katherine Parker, who has worked with Fretwell for years, had this to say: “Linda has been a joy to work with during my time at MBU. She’s a hard worker, but more than that, she’s someone who cares deeply about the people around her. She’s always the right person to go to about advice, whether it be MBU related or life in general. She’s leaving a large hole in the Student Accounts team, but I know she’s looking forward to retirement after 33.5 years at MBU and spending more time with her son and daughter-in-law, Garrett and Charissa. I’m very happy for her to be able to kick back and enjoy retirement!”

Beverly Riddell

Beverly Riddell joined Mary Baldwin in the fall of 2010, serving in roles such as coordinator of instructional technology, director of instructional technology, and director of instructional support services. One of her most memorable experiences at Mary Baldwin was during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was impressed by how the academic and technical community adapted to online and hybrid teaching amidst the crisis. This period involved transitioning to the Canvas Learning Management System, altering classroom sessions for remote students, and maintaining relationships with students online—all while faculty learned new systems and took on additional teaching responsibilities.

Riddell’s retirement plans include leisurely travel with her husband, Mike. She expresses a deep appreciation for being part of a community dedicated to the education and empowerment of the next generation, highlighting it as the highlight of her career. Riddell is committed to staying connected and involved with Mary Baldwin University as she moves into retirement.

Michael Riddell

Michael Riddell’s career at Mary Baldwin began in August 2015. He worked as an adjunct professor for six years and as a visiting professor for two years. His tenure at MBU is cherished, especially for the opportunities it provided to work within a diverse student community. This experience enriched him intellectually and emotionally, something he considers a bonus of his teaching career.

Riddell plans to retire by devoting time to personal interests such as traveling and music, along with projects that have been waiting for his attention. What he will miss most about Mary Baldwin is the interaction with students and hearing their personal stories, which has been a significant part of his teaching experience.

Heather Macalister 

Heather Macalister began her career at Mary Baldwin in the fall of 2003, initially joining as a visiting professor before advancing through the ranks to assistant professor, associate professor, and ultimately full professor. Over the years, she also served as chair of the psychology department and director of the women’s studies program. Her commitment to service is evident in her initiation and leadership of the 5.55 Menstrual Hygiene Drive since 2016, a project designed to support homeless students in the Staunton area by providing them with essential supplies.

One of Macalister’s most memorable experiences at Mary Baldwin was organizing a trip to the Women’s March in Washington, DC, on January 21, 2017. She facilitated the participation of about 50 students in this historic event, highlighting her role not just as an educator but as a mentor and activist. This initiative was supported by numerous members of the Mary Baldwin community, reflecting the collaborative spirit that she deeply values.

As Macalister approaches retirement, she is looking forward to dedicating more time to her passions for painting and building gingerbread houses, alongside a continued commitment to community service.

What she will miss most about Mary Baldwin are the students and the enriching interactions with her colleagues, particularly in the Psychology Department. Her time at the university has been profoundly shaped by the diverse range of students she has worked with, and she cherishes the reciprocal learning and personal growth that this environment fostered.

Carolyn Moore

Carolyn Moore holds a PT degree from the University of Texas School of Applied Sciences, a master’s of health sciences from the University of Indianapolis Krannert School of Physical Therapy, and a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. She joined Mary Baldwin’s Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences as a physical therapy professor in 2015. She served as the director of the PTA program at Volunteer State Community College and worked for 20 years in the pediatric neuro-rehabilitation department at the University of Michigan Health Systems. At Murphy Deming, she taught courses including foundations of PT and neuromuscular management 2 – pediatrics. Her research interests include mindfulness, concussion, balance, and adaptive design. In 2022, she joined the Blue Ridge LEND program to enhance healthcare options for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Additionally, she led OT and PT students in creating custom adaptive products for local children.

Dr. Todd Telemeco, vice president and dean of the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, shared his admiration for Moore’s commitment to sharing her knowledge, accumulated over a long and dedicated career in innovative areas of physical therapy, so that future generations of physical therapists and healthcare professionals might be better equipped.

Pamela Stephenson

Pam Stephenson has served MBU as an associate professor of occupational therapy since 2015, capping more than 30 years of experience as an occupational therapist. Her major areas of interest focus on mental health and autism. Prior to joining MBU, she served in the Augusta County School System. She’s been active in the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, presenting many times at the state occupational therapy conference, often co-presenting with Murphy Deming students, alumni, and colleagues. She has also taught short courses, presented, and participated in roundtable discussions at the national American Occupational Therapy Association conference, and served as the forum coordinator for the association’s Early Intervention and School Special Interest Section. Her work on best practices in intervention under Part C was published in “Best Practices for Occupational Therapy in Early Childhood” (2021, American Occupational Therapy Association).

Dr. Allison Ellington, associate professor and director of the occupational therapy program, shares this about Dr. Stephenson: “Pam has been instrumental to the success of the occupational therapy program and Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences from its earliest days. Pam is a strong advocate for the profession of OT and helped initiate a partnership of MBU with UVA through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other Disabilities (LEND) grant. Pam’s incredible commitments and contributions to the field of occupational therapy were recognized in 2021 when she was recognized among the Roster of Fellows of the American Occupational Therapy Association.”

In addition to MBU’s 2024 retirees, there are a number of Mary Baldwin faculty and staff who are passing significant milestones of service to the institution. Below are those employees as well as their laudable years of service.

Five Years of Service

10 Years of Service

15 Years of Service

20 Years of Service

25 Years of Service

30 Years of Service

35 Years of Service

Mary Baldwin is proud of the dedication of each employee listed above, and congratulates them on reaching this milestone in their careers.