By Michael Piwowarski
UNIVERSITY CENTER – A long-time Delta College employee – who helped organize their dental hygiene program – is riding off into the sunset.
Virginia Przygocki, who currently serves as Dean of Career Education and Learning Partnerships, previously wore other hats during her 41 years of employment.
Upon earning a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Michigan, Przygocki began clinical practice in Saginaw in 1976. She learned that Delta had a dental hygiene program in the works. Her passion for teaching led her to apply for a faculty position in the new program.
“All my lifelong mentors were in educational careers, most teaching in public school systems and a few at the university level,” says Przygocki. “Teaching and facilitating learning has always been part of my life.”
She was an adjunct and later assumed positions of assistant professor and discipline coordinator for the dental hygiene program. She then became Delta’s Health and Wellness division chair, before assuming her current Dean of Career Education position.
“I have worked with students and employees helping them achieve success, or comforting [and] encouraging them when success momentarily escapes them,” says Przygocki.
In February, Przygocki was one of three Delta staff members to receive a prestigious community college award recognizing exceptional teaching and leadership. The 2019 League Excellence Award was given to Przygocki, chemistry professor Dave Baker, and associate professor of computer numerical control Terry Morse.
Przygocki was also nominated for the Delta College Willie E. Thompson Outstanding A/P Service Award by executive director of institutional advancement Pam Clark for her “outstanding service to the College community.”
Przygocki says her work philosophy revolves around service, and that she did not start her career to achieve a deanship. Each advancement she would make to new positions within Delta was because someone was needed to fill the role.
“Through encouragement from my mentors and colleagues, I would apply knowing I could serve our students and the College by taking on a position’s responsibilities,” says Przygocki. “Each new position provided an opportunity to grow and learn, which is important when you are serving a community. Every student or employee should be valued and served in order to succeed in your work.”
As she bids farewell to Delta College, Virginia Przygocki is one of Delta’s longest serving staff members. In 2019, she was recognized along with Linda Petee, Dana Jo Denney and Linda Plackowski-Witucki for 40 years of service. Petee retired later that year.
Now, she plans on the “typical” activities undertaken by those who enter retirement.
“Definitely spending more time with my husband; we hope to travel to national parks, finish projects, spend more time at our cottage in Ontario and our cabin in the Upper Peninsula, and of course, see our family more,” says Przygocki.
