The Collegian

Issue date: 9/12/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Annie Douglass Suzanne Wise has worked at Saint Mary's College for 15 years.

Students, faculty, and staff alike are saddened to have said their goodbyes to one of Saint Mary's College's key employees, Suzanne Wise. Last week, Wise, an assistant registrar, retired after 15 years of exemplary service to the Saint Mary's community.

Wise first arrived at Saint Mary's in the admissions office in 1991, and eventually found her way into the financial aid department before settling into her home as an assistant registrar.

Wise was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Southern California. She attended Saint Bernard High School in Playa del Rey, and went to college at California State University Long Beach. Prior to working at Saint Mary's, Wise worked primarily as a stay-at-home mother. She is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.

She is known for being much more than just an employee in the registrar's office, however. According to Arthor Curley '08, vice president for student affairs, "She's willing to talk to you not just about classes, but about anything that's going on in your life….She will be missed."

Members of the staff also sense that Wise goes above and beyond her call of duty as an employee. Echoing a similar statement he made at her retirement party, Vice Provost for Enrollment Michael Beseda said, "To me she is a model of the LaSallian spirit. Our founder reminds us that we are in God's holy presence. Suzanne recognizes and honors that presence in every person she serves."

Wise is grateful for the experience she has been able to have at Saint Mary's. "Brother Ron said that 'LaSallian' is about relationships, and I have made so many relationships. This job has afforded me the opportunity to really build those relationships with students, faculty, and staff," she said. "It really is a community."

Now that Wise has retired, she plans on catching up on things she has not been able to do as often while working. "I'm hoping to visit my daughter in Germany, and do some volunteer work," she said.

Wise's retirement reception was last Wednesday afternoon, and was attended by numerous friends and coworkers, as well as some students. Her last day of work was on Friday. A successor to her position has not yet been named.

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