University Says Goodbye To Leading Lights

Wrexham Glyndwr University said goodbye to three of its leading lights this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Interim Pro-Vice Chancellor Louise Casella, Guild President Marc Caldecott and Dr Richard Dover, Director of Quality, Learning and Teaching, are all moving on to pastures new. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise joined Wrexham Glyndwr in May last year having successfully built-up her own consultancy and executive coaching business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She had previously spent 25 years at Cardiff University, specialising in strategic planning and internal management structures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise brought all of her experience and skills to the challenge of helping Wrexham Glyndŵr University achieve stability and was at the heart of its new five-year strategy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m delighted to have been part of the team that has worked so hard to rebuild Wrexham Glyndwr and put it on course for a successful future,” she said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s great to see the University in good shape and very capable hands and I’m very grateful to all the colleagues who have helped and supported me personally over the past 16 months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being here and have learnt a huge amount from you all.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise added: “The spirit and commitment of this University to students and to the region really got under my skin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“So much so that they’re going to find it hard to shake me off completely and I’m looking forward to being a trustee of the newly constituted Students’ Union, where I intend to support the students to keep pressing the University to keep on improving the student experience and investing in learning, teaching and development.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard joined the institution more than 25 years ago and has been a driving force in improving academic quality and strategic planning having previously led the Humanities department. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their support, hard work and friendship over the years and wish them every success for the future,” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have appreciated the sustained commitment and dedication of all staff who have helped to transform the University from the institute I first joined in 1990.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Marc echoed those words and has enjoyed a proactive spell in charge of the Guild, which included winning the NUS Wales Small and Specialist Students’ Union of the Year Award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘I have thoroughly enjoyed and feel privileged to have been elected to represent the students of Wrexham Glyndwr University,” he said. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am extremely proud to have been a student here and as a staff member feel sad to be leaving such a fantastic team. I wish the University all the best for the future and I will certainly be coming back to support the institution when I can.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maria Hinfelaar, paid tribute to Louise, Marc and Richard and said that while the University was sad to be parting company with the influential trio the future looked “very bright” for the institution. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank all three of them for their dedication and hard work in laying the foundations for a very bright future here at Wrexham Glyndwr University,” said Professor Hinfelaar. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They have had a very positive impact on the university over past years and we look forward to continuing their good work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​