It's a lifetime award for a lifetime's dedication.

Doreen Whalen, director of Memorial's Division of Lifelong Learning, has been awarded an honorary membership to the leading association for university continuing education in Canada (CAUCE).

In awarding the honorary membership, CAUCE cited Ms. Whalen's outstanding contribution to the fields of adult learning and continuing education (CE) during her extensive career.

In the letter to Ms. Whalen, advising her of her award, Dr. Jane Lewis, chair of CAUCE's nomination committee, wrote: “You have been a model practitioner, creating innovative new programs and nurturing and guiding numerous community and professional organizations. Moreover, during your many years at MUN, you were able to provide a constant and important voice for continuing education through many organizational changes and restructuring.

“Your colleagues at MUN, and the rest of us from around the country, certainly believe you are an important reason that CE has managed to thrive and grow and evolve at Memorial throughout the years."

It's the second time in as many years that a Memorial continuing educator has been so honoured. Dean Graham Skanes was the recipient of the same award at CAUCE's 2005 annual general meeting and conference in St. John's.

"I'm not sure I feel worthy to have been accepted into the company of those who so deservedly received the honour in past," said Ms. Whalen. "To have been nominated by my colleagues at Memorial, let alone granted the honour .... I'm humbled."

Ms. Whalen started her career in continuing education in 1970, as the Division of Part-time Credit Studies' executive assistant. Over the next 21 years, she rose to become acting dean of the School of General and Continuing Studies. Following the dissolution of the school in 1986, she became the director of the Division of Continuing Studies Continuing Education, moving from there in 2001 to her current position as director of the Division of Lifelong Learning.

In addition to her administrative duties, Ms. Whalen has been a long-time teacher of business administration courses; first in the college system, later for the Faculty of Business where she's been teaching Business Communications since 1991.

CAUCE's award comes on the cusp of her retirement: she's eligible to retire in November, marking more than 36 years of service with Memorial. Asked what she'll do with her time after she retires, she remarks with an anticipatory grin, "What I want to do, when I want to do it!

"Really," she added in a more serious vein, "there are so many things I want to do and experience, I couldn't do them all if I had to work." One of those "things", she affirms, is to "continue learning.

"Lifelong learning is an attitude, not a circumstance," she said. "There is no point in time when you say `I've learned all I need or care to learn.' To remain active, engaged and vital, you've always got to be offering yourself new challenges and stimulating your brain.

"I remember a customer of ours once said, 'When you stop learning, you stop living.' He's right. I'd add to that by saying, 'A day you learn nothing, is a day wasted.'”

Ms. Whalen will be presented her award at CAUCE's annual general meeting and conference, May 30 in Toronto.