Wilma Cavill (1930-2019), taught at Slippery Rock University for over fifty years, starting in 1958. She was a graduate of Slippery Rock State Teachers College and was captain of the gymnastics team in her junior year. As a student, she wrote a column for The Rocket called “Whirlpool by Will.”

Cavill’s accomplishments as a faculty member included coaching gymnastics, starting the women’s swim team, and election to the presidency of APSCUF four times. Cavill was honored by the Women’s Athletic Association as a pioneer in women’s sports. She also received the President’s Service Award. Cavill taught in the Health and Safety Department and retired in December of 2015.

Dr. Mark Chase (born 1960), Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, served in a variety of positions at Slippery Rock University since 1983 including Director of Media Services and a temporary position as a professor in Secondary Education.

Chase was involved with many of the technological advances on campus. He also served as an advisor to the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams and worked with WSRU. As the son of a faculty member, Chase remembers football games and the campus social scene in the 1970s.

Jane Scott Cleary (born 1948), served on the faculty at Bailey Library from 1978 to 2003. She began her career as the instructional materials librarian and shifted into the role of a reference librarian and liaison to the science and health sciences departments. She also served as the coordinator of instruction.

Cleary worked during the years of technological advancement that transformed library resources from print to online. She served on many committees during her time here, including chairing the Marjorie Stevenson Scholarship committee and the Black Action Society. Cleary met and later married Dr. Michael Cleary, a professor in the Allied Health Department, at SRU.

Thom Cobb (1951-2016), better known as T. C., started teaching at Slippery Rock University in1978. Hired to teach dance in the Physical Education Department, Cobb was involved early on in the creation of the Dance Department. In 1987 Slippery Rock University offered the first bachelor’s degree in dance in the state system of higher education in Pennsylvania.

T.C. was very active in Slippery Rock University Dance Theater. He did the choreography for the Theatre Department and the Marching Band and taught dance at festivals and conferences.

Louis Como (1927-2022), was hired in 1966 as an assistant acquisitions librarian. Como worked in Maltby Library and was involved in the move from Maltby to Bailey Library in 1972. During his career the library collection was vastly expanded and improved, supporting Slippery Rock’s transition from teacher’s college to state college to university status.

Como shares his memories of students, staff, and presidents, including the faculty no-confidence vote and the resignation of one of our presidents.

Dr. Joan (Jace) Condravy (born 1952), was hired in 1981 into the Department of Academic Support Services. She transitioned to the English Department where she eventually served as chair.

Dr. Condravy was an active member of the faculty union at Slippery Rock University and served as the APSCUF president. She was also a key figure in leading the Women’s Studies program.