Commendation of Dr. Marshelle Thobaben

AS-2806-07/EX - May 10-11, 2007

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has served the faculty of the California State University as a member of the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) since 1990; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has served in many leadership positions for the ASCSU including: Secretary of the ASCSU (1994-1995), Vice Chair of the ASCSU (1995-1998 and 2004-2005), and Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee (2003-2004); and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has served as co-chair of the Academic Technology Advisory Committee for the past two years, and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has served on the ACR 73 Task Force as well as some 30 other committees; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has served the faculty of Humboldt State University as Chair of their campus Senate (1988-1990), as campus President of CFA, and as a member of the CFA Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, For the past two years Marshelle Thobaben has skillfully guided the ASCSU as our Chair; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has never been known to “pull a punch” in advocating for the appropriate role of faculty in shared governance;

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben skillfully led the Senate as we dealt with a reduction in our budget and the size of our organization; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has championed intersegmental cooperation through her participation in the Intersegmental Committee of Academic Senates, which she chaired in 2005-06; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben provided wise leadership as the faculty of the CSU spent two long years negotiating a contract with the CSU administration; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has endured countless flights from Arcata to LAX, single-handedly rescuing United Airlines from bankruptcy; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has greatly enriched Paris and her family through her many nights of lodging at the Long Beach Hilton; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has intrepidly vacationed in more exotic and out-of-the-way places than any other Senate Chair in CSU history; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle’s stamina and fortitude over the past two years have been superhuman; and

WHEREAS, Marshelle Thobaben has served the ASCSU and the entire faculty with style and grace; therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU extend our most heartfelt gratitude to Marshelle Thobaben; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU extend to Marshelle Thobaben our best wishes as she begins the transition to the “civilian life” of a CSU faculty member.