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From the Chair, Bernhard Leistle

Hooray for Paula

By now, most members of our community will have heard the news which, in some of us, including myself, have produced a sense of trepidation: Paula Whissell has her last day of work on Thursday, before starting her retirement on August 1. As professors, students, contract instructors, staff, we have very different perspectives on our department, but we were able to agree on one thing: for the last two decades, we have had an excellent team of support staff. If we are being honest, the word “support” doesn’t really cut it, because in a real sense our staff actually are the department; they are the ones whose presence is reliable and makes the department a social space and a place of work. Paula has been a driving force for this excellence, first in her years as graduate administrator and, since January 2017, as departmental administrator.

Like my predecessors, when becoming chair two years ago I was put in the awkward position of acting nominally as “manager” of staff while knowing very little about how the department works administratively. Fortunately, there was an easy solution: as chair, you just let “Paula run the place”. You could trust that she would go to great lengths to make the best possible decision in morally difficult situations, find creative solutions to administrative problems, and communicate all of this with astonishing attention to detail and great institutional knowledge. Sure, she consulted with you as chair, and sometimes, when you were lucky, you also had a good idea, but mostly the job was to choose between different options provided by Paula.

I also had the chance to witness her in the role of team-leader and learned a great deal from that. She performed leadership with intelligence and empathy, but also transparently and honestly, guided by a sense of care for the person as well as the institution. She even managed the transition to a new team in a manner that makes me think, “we are going to be alright”. But there is no doubt that this department will be different after July 31^st and that something will have been lost and so it should be. In the name of the department, I want to express my gratitude for all Paula has done for us and wish her a long, healthy and happy retirement with lots of new interests and experiences. Please join me in virtually shouting: Hooray, Hooray, Hooray for Paula Whissell. 

Below are the notes of thanks and well-wishes we have collected for Paula. If you would like to contribute to this post, please email Kiley Johnston in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Well-Wishes and Thank You Notes

Powerful
Amazing departmental admin
Ultimate problem solver
Lovely human being
Awesome friend

– Kim ❤️

“Dear Paula, since I started teaching in the department 14 years back  you were the only permanent person I see every time when I visited the department.  You were very supportive and kind hearted I know for long. I miss your  emails that I was often eager to get from you especially the offer for contract teaching. I thank you so much for all the  support you have provided for my teaching as well as for my research. 

I wish you all the very best for your happy retirement.”

– Ishara Mahat

“I have known of Paula for many years, chatted a but, but have really gotten to know her in the last 5 or 6 years. It has been an absolute privilege working with her. She has taught me so much and never tells me I have a stupid or silly question. She has infinite patience and always makes sure new people are welcomed and know she is a support,  doesn’t matter your position.  I have no idea what I am going to do without you Paula! You have truly taught me so much. Enjoy your retirement and please visit us!”

– Tabbatha Malouin

“P���ܱ���, it’s hard to imagine out department without you! You are (and will always be) our rock: wise, kind, and phenomenal. Thank you for answering all my questions so patiently. Please think of us sometimes. ;)❤️”

– Azar Masoumi

“P���ܱ���, I hope your retirement is filled with joy, adventure, and plenty of time zipping around on your e-bike! May your new commute be wherever the road takes you—far beyond to and from �Ӱ�ԭ��.”

– Nika

“Paula! I don’t know how �Ӱ�ԭ�� University will manage without you. Your expertise, knowledge, willingness to help, and friendship to so many will be greatly missed. I will miss you so much. The FASS Admin team won’t be the same without you. Have fun with your new grandchild and travelling!! Enjoy many well-deserved years of health and happiness!”

– Lana Keon

“Best wishes and gratitude.”

– Dasha

“P���ܱ���, Paula, Paula… What will we do without you, P2? Thanks for all the fun and laughter over the years. This place just won’t be the same without you. Wishing you all the best in your retirement. We’ll miss you! Hugs,”

– K2

“Sending you off onto other adventures with warm hugs and love, and immense gratitude for all you have done for me, for our students, for all of us. I’ll miss you, but I’m so happy for you!”

– Marie-Eve Carrier-Moisan

“Working with Paula, in her time as both the Graduate Program Administrator and the Departmental Administrator, has been one of the great joys of being in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.  I was the faculty Graduate Coordinator for Anthropology when we hired her to join our department, and I remember her exhaustedly persevering through the job interview after being up half the night with her daughter, who had just been to the Emergency department to reset a broken bone!  But she made it through the interview, and hiring her was one of the best decisions I have been part of in my more than 20 years here.  I would choose to have you stay forever, Paula, but I know you will love your retirement adventures with your family, and we will, alas, have to muddle through without you!  All the best, and hoping you will visit us often.”

– Jen Pylypa

“Paula,
It has been such a pleasure getting to know you over these past few weeks- I have said it many times before, but it is no surprise why you are so loved and respected in this office (and beyond!).  Your caring nature shines through in absolutely everything you do; you have such a well-rounded way of approaching all that comes your way, and you will absolutely be missed around SOAN.   I hope that wherever this next chapter holds, it brings you and your family so much laughter, adventure, joy, and fun! Congratulations on your retirement, and please don’t be a stranger.  (It may, from time-to-time, be ‘somewhat’ your problem again) ????.  
Best wishes”

– Sam

“P���ܱ���,
Thank you for your open and friendly nature, your sense of humour, dedication and loyalty.  You made working with you a pleasure and a joy.  It really is the end of an era in Sociology and Anthropology.  I’m sure the place won’t be the same, but will be made better because you were there.  I didn’t get to see you as often as I would have liked, but know that I will miss you.  I wish you a happy and healthy retirement.”

– Karen Tucker

“Congratulations on your retirement Paula! Although I haven’t known you as long as many others, your support and guidance have made my transition into this role so much smoother. “Ask Paula” has become a go-to answer for so many of us and is testament to how generously you share your wealth of institutional knowledge. Thank you for being such a steady and generous presence. Wishing you a retirement that’s as fulfilling, joyful, and community-rich as your time at �Ӱ�ԭ�� has been!”

– Carieta Thomas

“In addition to Paula’s tremendous, endless creative problem-solving skills and superb organizational ability as grad administrator and departmental administrator, she played a key role over many years in helping create and maintain the great feeling of community in our department.”

– Aaron Doyle

“Best wishes!”

– Carolyn

“Paula, I’ll always think of you as one of the original Loeb lunch ladies who spent every noon hour in our department for many years (I can still hear your laugh and smell the burnt popcorn you all enjoyed ☺). I’ll miss seeing you around but am happy for you to begin your well-deserved retirement adventure. Enjoy (I hope to still see you biking along Riverside now and again)!”

– Erin Johnston

“Dear Paula,
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support and guidance on my PhD journey. I have so many cherished memories: from our heartfelt chats about the challenges and joys of veggie gardening to your encouraging words that pushed me out of my comfort zone and give teaching a try. Your steady and calm presence has had such a positive impact on my life, and I am so deeply grateful to have been able to share part of my journey with you and share in some small ways in yours.
As you embark on this new chapter of retirement, I wish you much joy and happiness.
With sincere appreciation and warm wishes”

– Suzanne Kennedy

“Congratulations Paula – we’ll miss you tremendously! Words can’t express how grateful I am for all of your assistance over the years. Though the department will be impoverished without your administration, you deserve this next chapter!”

– JP

“Paula, thank you for making my time at �Ӱ�ԭ�� smooth and enriching. Your guidance over the years has helped me immensely, and I am sure that I am not the only student at �Ӱ�ԭ�� that you have touched so deeply. From your yearly help with SASA to guidance over academics you have been an influence on my time here. You exemplify everything that makes this department so kind and welcoming, and you will be dearly missed. Your energy, light and kindness show up in everything you do, and I am wishing you all the best in your well-deserved retirement.”

– Arleth

“For the past two decades we have been so fortunate to have a really well-run and supportive administrative team in Soc-Anth!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Paula, for making it happen and making the Department such a warm and wonderful place!!”

– Donna Patrick

“Paula, wishing you the BEST retirement ahead! I am not sure who I will go to with my millions of questions, but I appreciate all of your pateince with me over this last year. Everyone is going to miss you around the department so much, but I know we will see you often. You were truly the glue of this department, so good luck to us all! Enjoy your time with your family and newest grand babies. You deserve it! :)”

– Kiley (K3?)

“Dear Paula – thank you very much for everything! I have learned so much from you, and not just about work, but about kindness and compassion. I will miss our fun lunch breaks and great laughs, so please come back and visit us often! I wish you a wonderful retirement and all the best for amazing adventures!”

– Eva Matyas

“When I first arrived from the East Coast for my graduate research (in 2003), Paula was an incredibly kind and supportive guide, helping me navigate a significantly larger department and university. I was then incredibly lucky to benefit from her seamless support again when I returned to teach during the challenges of 2020. Her excellence in connecting me with the best resources and answers truly made my teaching experience wonderful. Paula, I will genuinely miss you and wish you all the best in a well-deserved retirement!”

– Deborah Landry

“There are not enough words to express how our Department is losing an outstanding Departmental Administrator. Paula is a true professional who is highly competent, scarily efficient and knows the ins and outs of �Ӱ�ԭ�� as an institution. Paula is also caring and compassionate who is always willing to help students and faculty members alike. I have truly enjoyed working with Paula and will miss her presence in our Department.

All best wishes for your retirement”

– Carlos

“I have known Paula for the last three years that I have been in the department, and throughout that time, I have deeply appreciated how kind, professional and helpful she has been. I always knew I could count on her. Paula did her best to support me and to be there for my fellow grad students as well. She made a real difference in my experience at �Ӱ�ԭ�� and in the Sociology and Anthropology Department. I am very grateful that our paths crossed and for all of her care and dedication. I wish her all the best as she begins this next chapter. Paula, I will miss you.”

– Zeina Al Attar

“Dear Paula,
You will be missed tremendously – you have been THE key person in SocAnth for so many years. Your endless support to us all – perhaps especially the chairs – has been incredibly important, even if at times the work has been endless, difficult and exhausting. I know that you and Mike will have a fabulous time in your post-�Ӱ�ԭ�� life. Keep in touch!”

– Blair

“It is so hard to imagine SOAN without you, Paula. Thank you for leading us for all these years. You will be sourly missed!!”

– Vivian

“Paula, I would ask how we will ever get on without you, except that you are the caliber of excellence who sets up the conditions for those who come after her to also flourish. But I will miss you every day, while hoping you have the most delicious retirement ever”

– Alexis

“Best wishes!”

– Jean-Michel Landry

“P���ܱ���, you’ve been the central nervous system of the Sociology and Anthropology Department for quite some time! I remember being a graduate student and relying on your guidance and last-minute support to get my defense across the line while you were graduate coordinator, and as a faculty I came to depend upon your wise and super efficient administration of TA support, timetabling, course-leaf, and more, not to mention your support for the numerous Departmental Chairs. Your work to coordinate and handle the logistics (including runs to the store!) for departmental events, both big and small, provided so much to the social life of the department and enriched our community. But most of all, your kindness and care to everyone who came to the department set an important tone to the culture that we have all greatly benefitted from. Enjoy your retirement and ride your bike safely!”

– Matthew Hawkins