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CPD alumni ponders a changing career

March 31, 2009 by JoLynne Lyon

Adrienne Akers at work in the early 1980s.

Adrienne Akers at work in the early 1980s.

2009 Alumni of the Year Adrienne Akers reflects on life at the Center for Persons with Disabilities, which has undergone two name changes and several shifts of focus. Her own career has taken some unexpected turns since she started work at the Exceptional Child Center in the early 70s. read more

14 Comments

  • Irene Welch

    Adie, you are awesome! What more is there to say? Congratulations on receiving the 2009 Alumni of the Year award. You definitely deserve it. I so much enjoyed the opportunity of working with your for 18 years. You were a great example to me and you are a great inspiration to all. I wish you the best of everything! Again, congratulations!

  • Vonda Jump Norman

    Of course it is not surprisng to have you as the Alumni of the Year, Adie. You have contributed so much at EIRI and the CPD. But more important (in my mind) than all of your professional contributions are the things you have done to support, encourage, and mentor others. I’m really sad that we didn’t get to work on projects much together, but I’m very happy that we did get to serve on the UAIMH board together, and that I got to watch you in action on the PRO project, which helped to shape a lot of my thinking. You are a dynamic personality to be around, and a woman who carries herself with poise and grace. I have appreciated the frank conversations we’ve had around helping to shape another person, and I continue to reflect on some of the things you have said to me. As it is now time to watch my child move out into the world and make her own life, which will be different than the life I have envisioned for her, I continue to appreciate conversations with you, and I’m sure will be calling on you for more life advice. Thanks for everything, Adie.

    vonda

  • http://www.championsinc.org Benjamin Fore

    It was a great pleasure working with you; even such a short time. Congratulations!

  • Cynthia Budge

    Interesting story. Especially the first line where Adrienne Akers had no interest in children. That really got my attention to read the “rest of the story.”

  • Mary Ellen Heiner

    The luncheon was a WONDERFUL experience! Thanks for all the many years of your friendship and association. What great memories we have together. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to start my Thesis/Dissertation service. I think I am not up to over 300+ since your inaugural debut!

  • Joy Gines

    Congratulations!! You work with someone in the same office and sometimes have no idea what there work has entailed. Must be all that number crunching that the Business Office does!! How exciting!!

  • Natalie Humpherys

    Congratulations, Adie. There’s no doubt you deserve this award. It was a pleasure working for you for those few months and I’m proud to see how far the “Universal Application System” has come. Thank you for being a great mentor!

  • Jim Hess

    Congratulations! You have had an outstanding career. It must be fulfilling to know that you have made such an impact on many lives.

  • Tina McComber

    An interesting story, and a very deserving title.

  • Gina Cook

    Congratulations on Alumni of the Year Adie. You deserve it.
    I have really enjoyed working with you over the years.

  • Cathy Mace

    three cheers for all the hard work you have done over the years. Early Intervention still thinks of you when we have to work on our portfolios!

  • caroline St-Onge

    Congratulations! +I wish I could have worked directly with you as an OT. I could have learned so much! But thank you again for sharing your therapy books. I use them a lot. Caroline St-Onge

  • http://www.championsinc.org Ginger Payant

    Hey Adie,

    Thanks for your friencship and mentorship all these years! I loved working with you and miss you A LOT! You will live on forever at the CPD and this award is a great reminder of all the good work you have done. I’ll never forget your retirement party and the roast that Chris Schofield did. It was so funny!

    Love you always and see you soon,
    Ginger

  • Sharon Weston

    Adie, I have always admired you for your friendliness and professionalism.

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