News Release

Wilmington University Assistant to the President Receives 2009 Office of Women in Higher Education’s Rising Star Award

Congratulations to Simone George

Friday, October 30, 2009 - Dover, DE

Simone George, Assistant to the President at Wilmington University, was honored last night with the 2009 American Council on Education (ACE) Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE) Rising Star award at the Annual Fall Dinner. The Rising Star award is presented annually to a woman in higher education in Delaware whose potential to achieve more is evident, and who demonstrates a commitment to higher education, community service and overall leadership.

This year’s Annual Fall Dinner was held at Wilmington University’s Dover campus. Dr. Lillian Lowery, the Secretary of Education in the Delaware Department of Education, was the keynote speaker of the night touching on her personal journey through excellence and the obstacles she faced when she became the Assistant Superintendent of Cluster VII for Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Lowery also spoke on her new role as the Secretary of Education under Governor Jack Markell, and her plans for continuing her commitment of excellence in education throughout the state of Delaware.

Three OWHE awards were presented at last night’s ceremony: the award for leadership was presented to LeaNora Ruffin, Esq. from Widener University School of Law and two Rising Star awards went to Lisa Dunning from Delaware State University and Simone George from Wilmington University.

Simone George began her career at Wilmington University in 2004 in the College Relations department where she was responsible for handling Media and Public Relations. In 2007 she became Assistant to the President, Dr. Jack P. Varsalona, where she handles community relations, external affairs, government affairs. She also represents the University, speaking at various meetings and events throughout the community on behalf of the president.

Over the years Simone George has shown her commitment to the community by volunteering her time to a variety of service based organizations. George is a member of the United Way of Delaware’s Young Impact Professionals Society, a program aimed at promoting and facilitating “the spirit of civic-mindedness and philanthropy among the young leaders of the state of Delaware.”

George is also a member of the American Council of Education’s (ACE) Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE), the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and the Colleges and Universities Public Relations Association of Pennsylvania (CUPRAP). She sits on the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region Advisory Board, Public Policy. Additionally she does volunteer work for the Little Sisters of the Poor, an organization dedicated to providing care for the elderly.

"I was immediately attracted to the Office of Women in Higher Education because the message was that as women in Higher Education, or any field for that matter, we have an obligation to encourage each other, to support each other and to help each other to succeed,” said Simone George as she accepted the Rising Star award. “It is only because my coworkers give me that help, support and encouragement that I am standing here tonight.” George went on to speak about the obstacles she has had to overcome in the past year and how this has made her a stronger person. “[These] challenges...have taught me that with love, strength and support from my family – there is nothing that I cannot do.”

To learn more about the Office of Women in Higher Education visit: http://www.ace-delnet.org/.

 

 

< Back to News Releases Home