We are grateful to so many college administrators, faculty, and staff who have contributed to the VITA program in numerous ways over the years: Academic Dean and Vice President Therese McCarty designed the VITA service-learning course in 2003-2004 and launched it into existence by the teaching the first VITA class in 2005. She has also been generous with advice, support, and encouragement since I took over teaching the course in January 2006. Professor Presha Neidermeyer assisted student preparers in their first year. Economics department secretary Peggy Bielecki has also been a constantly helpful resource throughout the years of the VITA program, and the VITA program has also benefited from the support of department chairs Eshi Motahar and Steve Schmidt, as well as that of Dean Douglas Klein. I am also grateful to many colleagues in the economics department for their helpful conversations about the program. The excellent location and energetic support provided by the wonderful staff and administrators at the Kenney Center has been absolutely essential to the the success of the Union College VITA program, with special thanks for "above and beyond" assistance to Angela Tatem and Janet Sweeney, along with Donald Austin and Santos Avila. Gretchel Hathaway's support was essential in the early stages of the program. Information Technology Service (ITS) staff members Kelly Andolina, Kevin Barhydt, Lance Spallholz, Brent Potter, Dan Mahar, Dave Ruel, Tim Cade, and Susan Rinaldi have all provided essential computer hardware/software support over the years, and we are also indebted to Mary Parlett-Sweeney and Jim Strohecker. Thanks as well to Blair Raymond for her work in helping our VITA site to receive generous support from Bank of America enabling us to upgrade the technology at our site. We also appreciate the work of countless other Union College staff who make our work possible--from the mailroom employees who transport huge boxes of IRS manuals at the beginning of each filing season to the maintenance and custodial staff who keep our site a warm, pleasant, clean, dignified, and respectful place to work with our clients, to the campus security who look out for us when we are closing up the building late at night, to the college reference librarians who help track down electronic journal subscription information to help us access relevant articles in public finance. Mary O'Keeffe Union College VITA site coordinator 2006-present |