It is my pleasure to announce that Patricia Sirek, a St. Thomas News Service staff member for 22 years, will become assistant to the president with the retirement of Roberta Hall at the end of August.
Patricia Sirek
Pat will write correspondence and other written communications for internal and external audiences, conduct research, and develop and direct special projects on my behalf. She will report to Dr. Susan Alexander, executive adviser to the president.
Pat is a 1977 alumna of the College of St. Catherine, with a double major in English and journalism, and also has a Master of Arts in English degree from St. Thomas (2000).
She was training coordinator and employee communications manager at the former Donaldson’s Department Stores before returning to St. Catherine as director of public information in 1981. She joined the St. Thomas News Service as assistant director in 1988 and was promoted to associate director in 2000.
Pat will do a splendid job in her new position. She is an exceptional communicator and a fine writer, and I know she will represent the university well.
Roberta Hall
I want to pay special thanks to Rob for her excellent work as assistant in the president’s office since 2000. She previously served, from 1994 to 1998, as assistant director for corporation and foundation relations in our Development Office.
Among Rob’s other positions during her career was associate director for programs at the Association of American Colleges & Universities in Washington, D.C., from 1980 to 1985. She was co-author of a series of groundbreaking AAC&U reports on gender climate for women students, faculty and administrators, including “The Classroom Climate: A Chilly One for Women?” She moved to the Twin Cities in 1985 and served as a consultant to foundations and nonprofit organizations before joining St. Thomas in 1994.
Please join me in thanking Rob for her service to St. Thomas by attending a reception in her honor from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, in the Fireside Room of Murray-Herrick Campus Center.
