Colleagues, friends and family gathered in the Alumni Faculty Lounge in Lynn Hall to congratulate Nancy Allrich, director of IT Operations in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, at a reception marking her retirement. The event on May 20 included remarks by PVM Dean Willie Reed and Aaron Walz, senior director of Purdue IT Distributed Computing. Guests also had the opportunity to autograph and write congratulatory messages on a photo mat that was given to Nancy later as part of a framed print of the college’s Continuum Sculpture.
The reception honored Nancy for her dedicated service to Purdue over 33 years. She started out as an account clerk in the History Department in 1991, and then moved on to a variety of other roles, including business manager, business analyst, and ultimately, positions in Information Technology, serving the last four years in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“It’s really been an honor working with you,” Aaron said as he shared congratulatory remarks during the reception. “I know I can speak for many folks in the room when I say Purdue is a far better place for having had you here, with your passion, your dedication, the way you care about the work, the way you care about the people, and everything that you’ve done to make this a better place than when you found it. I can’t thank you enough for all the work you have done.”
Aaron then introduced Dean Reed, who said he wanted to publicly thank Nancy for all she has done for the College of Veterinary Medicine. “It’s been such a pleasure and delight to have Nancy in our college – the way she goes about her work every day,” Dean Reed said. “I always could tell how much the people who worked for her respected her for her skill set, the way she cares, her whole demeanor. So we are really going to miss you. I’m happy for you but I really hate to see you leave. We really wish you well.” Dean Reed also encouraged Nancy to always remember that she is a member of the PVM family.
The program concluded with a rousing send-off, as Dean Reed led the audience in a tradition that characterizes the college’s Bravo Award ceremonies, which honor staff and faculty who go above and beyond the call of duty in their jobs. “I make sure that it’s not just me giving the Bravo Awards,” Dean Reed explained. “There’s audience participation, so on the count of three we all are going to say “BRAVO” to Nancy for a job well done!” Those instructions resulted in a resounding shout of “Bravo!” Nancy then shared that, of her almost 34 years of service at Purdue, the last four years of working in the College of Veterinary Medicine have been her favorite. “I thank you all. I really appreciate everything you have done.”
Congratulations, Nancy Allrich!