17³Ô¹Ï

Message from Dr. Kristina Whalen

May 20, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

It is with the greatest sadness that I write to inform you that Laura Wigod, Supervisor of the Marketing team, passed late last week. Simon Pennington is in contact with Laura's family and is providing any support the college can offer.

Laura joined 17³Ô¹Ï in September 2023 and brought compassion, energy, light, and humor to everything she did. She was truly passionate about our mission and, as a former foster youth and 17³Ô¹Ï student herself, she understood our students and the challenges they face. Laura said that she had "been looking for a job at 17³Ô¹Ï for 20 years" and that the Marketing Supervisor position was the role she always wanted as our mission was aligned with her values.

Laura took the bus into work every morning and would conduct "market research," talking with students about their experiences at 17³Ô¹Ï and learning how to better serve them. She took great joy in mentoring TTW interns in the marketing department and loved nothing better than to support people in their work. Laura was a prodigiously gifted graphic designer and web designer and brought life and joy to the college's social media channels.

We are blessed to have known Laura for the brief eight months she worked at 17³Ô¹Ï. Nearly every morning, Laura would pause at my window and wave as she made her way to her office. It was a daily ritual that I adored. She was a person that knew the enormous power of small acts of kindness.

Laura was a devoted mother and grandmother and recently dedicated an element on the PSEC Periodic Table to her young grandson. She was an enthusiastic advocate for childcare, often noting that the only reason she could attend 17³Ô¹Ï in the 1990s was because we had a childcare center.

Please join me in sending love and best wishes to Laura's family.

For any colleagues who might want help processing this sad news, please remember that we have mental health counseling available via our

Yours in service,
Kristina
Dr. Kristina Whalen​
President