John Patrick
Assistant Editor
It was with both sadness and reluctant joy that the faculty and staff of the University of La Verne gathered on Sept. 10 to honor the retiring Dean of the School of Continuing Education Jim Manolis.
Manolis’ 30-year career here, which began in 1974, has altered both the way the University of La Verne and the state of California do business.
Professor of English and former Vice President of Academic Affairs Bill Cook said Manolis was “responsible for bringing together a quality management team, and creating the model for distance learning, which has become the standard for the entire state of California.”
University President Steve Morgan added that Manolis, over the course of two years, helped increase the student body dramatically to include students on ULV campuses across the United States through his distance-learning program, which he headed for the bulk of his 30 years at ULV.
The impact that Manolis made was not merely operational; he clearly influenced his colleagues and friends as well. Fiscal Assistant Grace Ramirez described Manolis as “fun, caring and one of the best managers a person could experience.”
“(Manolis) has always been approachable,” said Debi Hrboka, who came to the celebration from ULV’s Ventura County center for the School of Continuing Education in Oxnard. “I am sad to see him go.”
In heartfelt tributes delivered by Morgan, Interim Dean of the School of Continuing Education Ray Johnson, and Administration and Operations Director Deborah Walden, Manolis was painted as a loyal, trustworthy and committed individual.
He poured his soul into his work, family, colleagues and friends, they said.
Throughout the morning, individuals from various departments could be overheard sharing their own thoughts about Manolis.
When asked if she had any amusing anecdotes, Walden said, “All the best stories are left within the family.”
As for Manolis, he said he would always remember his time at ULV.
When he arrived at the campus, he wanted to help adult learners, a priority that was not prevalent in California at the time.
Once he had developed a distance-learning program that achieved this goal, it was the people who he worked with that kept him at ULV for the course of his 30-year career.
Manolis said he would remember “the good times and the sacrifices and dedication” of the people who helped him to make his vision a reality.
Manolis’ career at ULV ends in December.
Upon his retirement, Manolis said he plans to “do volunteer work at a children’s home and travel.”
John Patrick can be reached at jpatrick@ulv.edu.
