Spring Break
Honors College advisor dies
Nancy Lan
Issue date: 5/16/08 Section: News
Antonia McMenamin, better known as "Toni," a long-time faculty member of the Pennoni Honors College, died early May 13 after a long-time battle with cancer.
McMenamin, who suffered from leukemia and became prone to infections in recent months, was removed from life support May 10, according to Mark Greenberg, dean of the Honors College.
Though her primary role in the Honors College was as an advisor, Greenberg said she went far beyond that and became not only a trusted friend to her colleagues, but to her students as well.
"This is why everybody loved her so much. She would spend a lot of time talking with students about life choices, about a philosophy of living, about how to handle their work, if they were upset about a personal issue," Greenberg said.
McMenamin's other colleagues also emphasized how deeply she cared about students and how dedicated she was to her work.
"'Students First' was her golden rule, and that was long before Drexel had an initiative here that was called 'Students First.' I mean, they could have named it for her - that's how much of a motto it was for everything she did," David Raizman, a professor in the department of art and history, said.
Vivian Rosenberg, a professor of humanities, emerita, said not only did McMenamin enjoy helping students, but she was able to see problems that others could not.
"She was attentive to the issues that sometimes students don't divulge, but that occasionally are the background of academic problems," Rosenberg said.
McMenamin was very family-oriented, which she extended to the workplace, using her insight and experiences with her own children to help students, according to Rosenberg.
"She looked at students as a type of big family," Rosenberg said.
McMenamin's efforts and warmth did not end with just students, though, according to Greenberg. McMenamin, who was a part of the Honors College since its inception, knew all the complexities of department very well, and was also able to help those around her with the University's system overall.
McMenamin, who suffered from leukemia and became prone to infections in recent months, was removed from life support May 10, according to Mark Greenberg, dean of the Honors College.
Though her primary role in the Honors College was as an advisor, Greenberg said she went far beyond that and became not only a trusted friend to her colleagues, but to her students as well.
"This is why everybody loved her so much. She would spend a lot of time talking with students about life choices, about a philosophy of living, about how to handle their work, if they were upset about a personal issue," Greenberg said.
McMenamin's other colleagues also emphasized how deeply she cared about students and how dedicated she was to her work.
"'Students First' was her golden rule, and that was long before Drexel had an initiative here that was called 'Students First.' I mean, they could have named it for her - that's how much of a motto it was for everything she did," David Raizman, a professor in the department of art and history, said.
Vivian Rosenberg, a professor of humanities, emerita, said not only did McMenamin enjoy helping students, but she was able to see problems that others could not.
"She was attentive to the issues that sometimes students don't divulge, but that occasionally are the background of academic problems," Rosenberg said.
McMenamin was very family-oriented, which she extended to the workplace, using her insight and experiences with her own children to help students, according to Rosenberg.
"She looked at students as a type of big family," Rosenberg said.
McMenamin's efforts and warmth did not end with just students, though, according to Greenberg. McMenamin, who was a part of the Honors College since its inception, knew all the complexities of department very well, and was also able to help those around her with the University's system overall.
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