chris.wood@dewv.edu
Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” A commitment to excellence aptly describes three individuals retiring from Davis & Elkins College in May.
A tenured Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Sharmi Roy and I first met when she was serving as the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs upon my arrival in 2016. Joining the ranks of the faculty in September 1985, Sharmi has often told the story of how she came to Elkins. Her husband, and longtime D&E Professor, Shankar Roy, began working at D&E in 1983. Sharmi has always been a bit claustrophobic so as their car made its way on the curvy roads toward Elkins, she began to have second thoughts and urged Shankar to turn their vehicle and U-Haul around. Being prior to the days of four-lane roads in this area, there was nowhere to safely turn around until they finally arrived on the outskirts of Elkins at the Pizza Hut. Shankar asked, “Do you want to go back?” Sharmi replied, “No way, I’m not going through those mountains again. We’re staying!” Fortunately for D&E, they have for nearly four decades.  Â