Dr. Donald Wolfgang, 35 Years
Professor of Psychology
Having been the first counseling staff member at Virginia Wesleyan, Wolfgang watched the College grow in many ways, and helped establish the first residence life staff and services.
“At the time, there was only one specialist for residence life who resided in Rose Hall and was responsible for the other six halls that existed,” said Wolfgang. Today the College has four villages with 11 residence halls, townhouses and an apartment building.
Throughout the years, Wolfgang also assisted with the development of the career services and learning resource centers. His devotion to the College has established several well-qualified departments ready to help students with on-campus housing, prospective jobs/careers and schoolwork.
In regards to teaching, Wolfgang describes psychology as a “fascinating field.” It was one of his interests in college and a professor suggested that he apply for a graduate degree in the field.
“My placement and time at Virginia Wesleyan has been a very happy match,” he said.
Upon retirement, Wolfgang will take with him many fond memories of Virginia Wesleyan. Three specific memories stand out to him the most. First is the opening of the Jane P. Batten Student Center in 2002, and second is the men’s basketball team clinching the NCAA National Division III Basketball Championship in 2006.
“The third,” he said, “is more personal and are the fond memories I have of taking students on travel classes – five times to the Colorado Rocky Mountains and two times to Paris and the French Alps.” Wolfgang will forever remember the wonderful times of working with his colleagues and students.
Wolfgang also said that he will take away with him “the pride I feel in being affiliated with the outstanding faculty that is associated with the College.”
As for post-retirement plans, Wolfgang said he will continue to be a life-long learner by enjoying reading and traveling.
Robert "Beau" Cass, 32 Years
Professor of Management/Business/Economics
Mr. Robert “Beau” Cass, professor of management/ business/economics at Virginia Wesleyan, retired in February 2007 after 32 years of teaching, due to illness.
Cass first arrived at Virginia Wesleyan in 1976 when he started the Liberal Arts Management Program (LAMP) at the College. Mr. David Garraty, Batten Professor of Management/Business/Economics, said his colleague of 30 years was an essential component to the department.
“Cass led the department for most of the time he was here,” said Garraty. “He was a wonderful complement to our faculty because of his confrontative teaching style which makes students think – that is his legacy.”
Although Cass was known for his candid attitude in the classroom, he said his teaching career began by a fluke. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Cass. “I started off teaching in West Virginia and found that I liked it.”
Cass said he enjoyed teaching all subjects. His course syllabi at Virginia Wesleyan included Problem Solving and Decision Making (he also wrote the textbook for the course), Principles of Management and Seminar in Managerial Ethics. He even taught a Winter Session course on Basic Pocket Billiards – a game that was his passion in life outside of teaching.
Overall, Cass said he hoped that he was a positive influence on his students. “I believe it was important for them to stretch themselves mentally,” he said.
And when asked to describe more than three decades of teaching, he replied, “I enjoyed everything about teaching except grading papers.”
Sadly, Mr. Cass passed away on April 19 during production of this magazine.