Rusty Shunk to Retire

December 14, 2009

 Russell “Rusty” Shunk, Dickinson College’s tirelessly enthusiastic and effective liaison to the Carlisle community, will retire Dec. 31 from his position as executive vice president for college & community development. 

Shunk joined the Dickinson admissions staff in 1976, rising to the position of dean of admissions in 1995. He has held his current position in the office of the president since 1999. In his 34 years at Dickinson, Shunk has made tremendous contributions to Dickinson College. 

As dean of admissions, Shunk oversaw the recruitment of the first class to break 600 as the college admitted 620 students in 1999. Beginning in 1987, he served as president-elect, president and past-president of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), which brought national attention to Dickinson. The NACAC honored him in 1993 with the Gayle C. Wilson Service to Education Award. Established in 1973, this prestigious award is named for a fine and outstanding leader who devoted his life to counseling and assisting students in attaining their educational goals. 

As executive vice president for college & community development, Shunk developed a new realm of community activity for a liberal arts college. 

“While many of our peer institutions may be connected to the community in which they are located, few are truly engaged in the way Dickinson is,” Dickinson College President William G. Durden ’71. “Rusty created a new field of proactive and constructive community engagement among Dickinson’s staff, faculty and students and the Borough of Carlisle that extends beyond the normal level of outreach found at most liberal arts colleges. In many communities, the college and the community may simply coexist, but here, Dickinson and Carlisle are linked inextricably to form a strong, cohesive community. Rusty’s active engagement has greatly contributed to the development of this mutually beneficial partnership.” 

Shunk spearheaded this renewed relationship and commitment to the Borough of Carlisle, as well as revitalization efforts in the downtown, through his active participation and leadership on numerous boards and committees. During his time at Dickinson, he has: been a board member of the Capital Campaign Review Board (president 2005-06); the Carlisle Area Economic Development Corporation; Carlisle Volunteer Firefighter Association; the Downtown Carlisle Association (president 2007-08); Downtown Neighborhood Connection; Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce (chair 2003-04; education committee chair 2001-07); Program for Education, Enrichment and Recreation; Hope Station Neighborhood Council; Leadership Cumberland (president 2002-03); Regional Economic Development District Initiative (education representative); South Central Assembly; and the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County (president 2004-05, campaign co-chair 2001 and endowment campaign co-chair 2005-06). 

Shunk has given guidance and staff support to committees and initiatives at the college and throughout the community. These include: the Borough Traffic Study Committee; Carlisle Dickinson Council; Carlisle Inclusive Communities Initiative; College-Community Connections Committee (co-chair); Community Leadership Symposium; community groups to recommend fundraising practices for the Employment Skills Center and to assess new service areas for the Salvation Army; Downtown Improvement District task force; High I Partnership; panel to recommend redevelopment of 117 North Hanover Street; search committee for the Downtown Carlisle Association Main Street Manager; Selection Committees for Borough Council Student Ambassador and Amy Snow Prize recipient; Student Senate Community Relations (administrative liaison); U.S. Army War College International Fellows Reception; and U-Turn.

 Beyond this extensive list of responsibilities, Shunk has always committed his time to volunteer for many organizations in the community, including: Amani; Carlisle Area Health and Wellness Foundation; Carlisle Area School District-Dickinson College Partnership; Cumberland County Historical Society; exploratory partnership committees for the Carlisle Arts Learning Center and Carlisle Theatre; First Night; Historic Carlisle Inc.; Old Neighborhoods League; and Project S.H.A.R.E. 

“As an admissions officer at Dickinson for more than 23 years, I represented Dickinson at secondary schools and college recruitment programs in all 50 states and a number of foreign countries,” Shunk said. “I often felt that I served as an ambassador not only from Dickinson but from Carlisle and south central Pennsylvania.” 

Shunk added, “Over the past decade in college and community development, I have had the opposite experience, going from an external orientation to an internal one. I have learned how this community truly works as a melding of business, government, human services, education, recreation, culture and religion. The word that emerges for me is ‘partnership.’ No one person and no one institution can do whatever needs to be done in a community alone. I know that this great partnership between college and community will not only continue, but grow and thrive in the years ahead.” 

Durden said that while Shunk will be missed at Dickinson, “I am absolutely committed to maintaining the college’s relationship with the Borough of Carlisle and community that he established during his many years of dedicated work.” 

To that end, Durden announced the following structural changes to continue this important work in the community. 

• Ann Dykstra, chief of staff in the Office of the President, will play a key role on the High I Partnership board and will help to monitor Dickinson’s overall community development efforts. She can be contacted at 717-245-1323.
• Melissa Lewis, assistant chief of staff in the Office of the President will assume administrative oversight for most college and community development responsibilities and will be the key contact person for the community. She can be contacted at 717-245-1323. 
• The College and Community Development Committee will facilitate communication across the campus on community issues, bringing together representatives from all the administrative divisions of Dickinson on a regular basis.