Brenau University hosted a candlelight vigil Monday evening in memory of the university’s late President Dr. Anne Skleder who passed away last week following an ongoing battle with Leukemia.
As Brenau students, faculty, and community members gathered on the Historic Gainesville Campus’ front lawn, Grace Episcopal Church rang its bells to commence the ceremony honoring Skleder’s life and dedication to the community and university.
Brenau’s Vice President for Student Development & Engagement Dr. Whitney McDowell-Robinson led the vigil with several university officials sharing their memories of Skleder. Among those speaking on her legacy was Assistant Vice President and Dean of the Women's College Dr.Debra Dobkins.
“Dr. Skleder came to us in 2019, after a long national search,” Dobkins shared with AccessWDUN after the ceremony. “She immediately lit this place up with her joy, her enthusiasm, her energy, and just her passion for all things related to this university, and specifically to our students. She knew many, many of them by name.”
Skleder was Brenau's 10th President. She was also the first female President in the school's 145-year history.
Dobkins noted that Skleder’s leadership over the pandemic was crucial to the school’s success.
“When nobody knew what was happening, the whole world came to a stop, she kept the faith, and kept moving forward,” Dobkins recalled. “It wasn't just keeping everybody safe, which was, of course, important, and we did everything we could to do that–but she was adamant that we continue with strategic planning. That we continue with certain initiatives we had started or that were on the drawing board. And I think that took a lot of vision and foresight, but also, frankly, a lot of courage. While you're dealing in the midst of this thing that stopped the whole world, to hold on to your optimistic certainty of the future, I think was really quite remarkable.”
During Skleder’s tenure, she established a scholarship for first-generation students, and oversaw the elevation of the university’s Department of Psychology to the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling, according to Brenau University.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Skleder moved to Gainesville in 2019 when she assumed the role of President.
“I often say repetitively that I've never actually looked for a job,” Skleder told AccessWDUN earlier this year. “I've always been happy in what I'm doing, and someone's presented me with an opportunity that I just had to look at because I respected the person and knew that they knew me. And it's all to me about where you want to go, not the title you want to have. And so, every job that I've had has been because the institution that I was looking at the university or the college I was looking at was a place that I decided after research and experience that I wanted to be– because of the people, because of the mission, because of the students.”
Following the ceremony, the Associate professor of dance at Brenau University and the President of the Black Faculty Staff Association Dr. Madia Cooper– Ashirifi shared what she admired most about Skleder with WDUN.
“She wasn't afraid to be vulnerable and Dr. Dobkins mentioned it in the vigil, just to make us laugh,” she said. “And we shared a lot of laughs. I encourage the family to know that her spirit is here and she's always with us.”
Skleder received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in social and organizational psychology from Temple University. Additionally, she completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management. Prior to her time at Brenau, she served as senior vice president, provost, and professor of psychology at Wilkes University.
Following remarks from close colleagues, the ceremony closed in song, and attendees were encouraged to embrace the person closest to them, celebrating Sklader’s impact together.
