亚色影库's Council of Trustees approved resolutions on December 12, 2019, of appreciation for two long-time 亚色影库 administrators who are leaving the university.

Sam Smith, Robin Gorman, Susanna Sink, President Driscoll 737

Executive Assistant to the President for Government and Community Relations Robin Gorman, second from left, and Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance Susanna Sink, third from left, each received resolutions of appreciation from the 亚色影库 Council of Trustees at its quarterly meeting on Thursday. Gorman will be leaving the university in January 2020 to serve as a member of the Indiana County Board of Commissioners; Sink is retiring later this month after 35 years of service to the university. At left is 亚色影库 Council of Trustees Chairman Sam Smith; 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll is at right.

Trustees recognized Robin Gorman, executive assistant to the president for government and community relations, and Susanna Sink, interim vice president for Administration and Finance. Sink is a finance graduate of 亚色影库.

Gorman, who was elected in November to serve as a member of the Indiana County Board of Commissioners, will be leaving the university in January. Sink will be retiring this month from the university after 35 years of service.

Gorman began her 亚色影库 career in the area of workforce development in the School of Continuing Education and in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. Because of that background and her deep knowledge of the political and government relations spectra, she was appointed executive assistant to the president by President Tony Atwater in September 2005.

The resolution from the trustees recognized that current 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll 鈥渃ontinued to rely on Mrs. Gorman's expertise and added to her responsibilities the oversight of making 亚色影库 a welcoming place to all constituents鈥攑arents, community members, government leaders, and more鈥攁s well as ensuring 亚色影库 retains a close connection with the communities it serves.鈥

The resolution also lauded Gorman's role as a founding member of the Indiana Area Collaborative Team, and her success in developing the team's members credibility and trust, 鈥渨hich have strengthened mutual understanding and cooperation between 亚色影库 and the Indiana community.鈥

Gorman's service on many boards with key government officials at the local, state, and federal levels also was highlighted in the resolution, as was her leadership in planning and executing high-profile events, both external and internal, including commencement.

鈥淚 can't remember a major event that happened without Robin's involvement,鈥 Driscoll said. 鈥淪he has been tireless in making things perfect, and the work that she has done highlights both the office of the president and the university,鈥 Driscoll said.

鈥淏ut even more important is that her work at 亚色影库 has been built on a deep and abiding care for our students, be it mentoring the student workers in her office, the sequence of student trustees, and helping any student facing challenges. While she is busy making sure every commencement ceremony is perfect鈥攁ll business鈥攎ost may not see her occasional tear of joy and pride for each and every new graduate, but it's always there. She has been an excellent liaison between the community and 亚色影库 and a great resource for government offices to connect with 亚色影库.鈥

Trustees recognized Sink's long career, which began in 1985 as a member of the Grant Accounting staff. She advanced through the ranks to become associate vice president for Finance in 2006. She has served two appointments as interim vice president for Administration and Finance.

The resolution also highlighted Sink's leadership in a wide range of projects advancing the university, including many software conversions, reaffirmation of the university's accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, financing and early debt retirement of the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, construction of the Residential Revival housing initiative, and partnering with university affiliates. Under her watch, 亚色影库 has had balanced budgets and consistently clean financial audits (unmodified opinions on 亚色影库's financial statements).

Sink led efforts to restructure Cheyney University as a loaned executive and is representing 亚色影库 in the current system redesign efforts.

鈥淪usie has been a remarkable source of experience and institutional memory, both for 亚色影库 and across the State System,鈥 Driscoll said. 鈥淪he is an exceptional partner with cabinet, and made the hard decisions where necessary, balancing those decisions with real understanding and concern about 亚色影库 and its students.

鈥淲e wish both Robin and Susie all the best. I want to thank them both, on behalf of the university and personally, for their commitment to 亚色影库. They will be missed.鈥

Following a national search, Debra Fitzsimons has been selected to serve as the vice president for Administration and Finance. She will begin work at 亚色影库 on December 16.