Members of the Widener community gathered recently on the university’s Chester campus to celebrate the dedication of Julie E. Wollman Hall. Named in honor of Widener’s 10th president, Wollman Hall solidifies the president emerita’s legacy and celebrates her commitment to bolstering the university’s health science programs.
“Widener is an institution that I love and I am deeply honored to be recognized with my name on a building on this campus,” said Wollman. “I am honored that the building is one that highlights one of my areas of focus while I was here at the university. This structure represents years of campus-wide commitment and collaboration to develop graduate programs in the health sciences, meet the needs of the local community through interprofessional experiential learning for students, and prepare those students to serve a diverse range of clients.”
Wollman’s six-and-a-half-year tenure was marked by a commitment to expanding the university’s health science footprint. Her strategic leadship positioned the university to build upon its existing roster of top-ranked health and human service programs and expanded its mission of providing community-focused, holistic, and culturally inclusive care. Under Wollman’s leadership, the School of Health and Human Service Professions transitioned into the College of Health and Human Services and the university launched its occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and nutrition science graduate programs. These efforts led to an increase in graduate enrollment, diversified the interprofessional learning environment for students, and strengthened the pipeline of health care professionals in the region.
The dedication event welcomed Widener students, faculty, staff, and alumni and featured remarks by Paul Beideman ’79, chair of the Board of Trustees, and President Stacey Robertson. Beideman, who became board chair during Wollman’s administration, reflected on Wollman’s innovative leadership and her tremendous impact on the university.
“Among the many successes of Julie’s presidency was her recognition of the need and demand for health science programs and her focus on growing the number of health science programs offered at Widener,” said Beideman. “Julie did so much for Widener. She led a bold and innovative planning process that resulted in our dynamic strategy of Agility Experienced which is incredibly flexible and responsive to the shifting higher education landscape.”
Robertson celebrated Wollman’s work to position Widener and its students for success, particularly in the ever-evolving healthcare field.
“This is the place on our campus that exemplifies what it means to be part of the Pride,” said Robertson. “It is where theory meets practice, where the academy meets our community, where – in this fully student-run space, leaders are grown and nurtured, where the walls between disciplines are broken down, and where patients are the center of everything. It is very fitting that this excellent work takes place in Wollman Hall.”
Formally known as Melrose Hall, Wollman Hall is located on Melrose Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets. In 2019, the building underwent a complete renovation to revamp the entire interior to feature interactive patient rooms, flexible classroom space, and interdisciplinary workspaces designed to facilitate collaboration across disciplines. The state-of-the-art facility is also home to the university’s Chester Community Clinic and the Speech-Language Pathology Clinic which provide cost-effective health and wellness services to residents. The student-led clinics work in tandem to deliver holistic treatment plans to clients while simultaneously preparing students to work interprofessionally in a clinical setting.
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