In Spring 2021, Catherine Weidner, Professor and then-Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, graciously agreed to serve as the Interim Director of the Ithaca College London Center for the 2021-22 academic year. She is now completing her last few weeks in that position, having passed the baton on to our new Director, Dr. Meghan Callahan.
Catherine’s service to the London Center has been extraordinary. During an extremely challenging time, she stepped up to the task with no hesitation, and threw herself into the job whole-heartedly. Following the closure of the Center due to COVID-19 in 2020-21, Catherine led the development and implementation of procedures that allowed us to successfully reopen in the pandemic environment, and to provide a safe and healthy study abroad experience to our students. From pre-arrival testing and quarantine advice, to the development of a twice-weekly testing and tracking regimen, to isolation housing, healthcare support, and everything in between, Catherine and the London staff guided the students through the confusing maze of COVID-related travel requirements and pandemic procedures.
She tackled building repairs and maintenance alongside Associate Director Orla McCormick, spearheaded the difficult search for College-provided housing for our recent London Center groups, waded bravely through UK banking challenges, dove headfirst into the complex London budget process, participated in the search that led to the hiring of Meghan Callahan, mentored the London Center faculty in implementing Canvas use for our London Center classes, and so much more. Her positive attitude and boundless energy meant that there was nothing she hesitated to take on.
