Delores Robinson of the Lang Center Named Welsh Award Recipient

May 27th, 2020 Roy Greim '14
Delores Robinson

Recognizing her exemplary service to Swarthmore, the College awarded the 2020 Suzanne P. Welsh Award to Delores Robinson, administrative assistant at the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility,​​​​ earlier this month.

Robinson, who was one of 33 nominees (see slideshow below), is considered by many to be “the heart and soul of the Lang Center.” Her various nominators mentioned her skill and adaptability in the face of any task, writing of how she “goes above and beyond” in her role to “inspire best practice in every respect.”

"Delores is the Lang Center’s nerve center, the brains behind the brains, and the rhythm in our pulse,” says Associate Professor of Political Science and Executive Director of the Lang Center Ben Berger. "She brings passion and commitment to every aspect of her work."

This award is given biennially to a staff member who has made outstanding contributions to the College and demonstrated their commitment to its mission through hard work, creativity, and kindness. It serves as an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to honor their colleagues, mentors, and friends, and to shine a light on those who help make Swarthmore all that it is. In recognition of their contributions to our community, winners receive a cash award, and a student scholarship donation is made in their name.

The award was established in 2011 by Eugene M. Lang ’38, H’81 to honor Welsh, then vice president for finance and treasurer, and nominees are selected by their peers. It was first awarded in 2014 to Frank Milewski, director of administrative database application support for Information Technology Services. Librarian Assistant Annette Newman received the honor in 2016, and Sharples cook Don Thomas won the award in 2018.

Below, watch Delores learn of the news during a Zoom meeting with staff members from the Lang Center (and some surprise guests from the campus community and beyond) and view a slideshow of all the nominees. A longer video of the announcement can be found on the Welsh Award website.

2020 Welsh Award Winner Delores Robinson

Above, watch Delores Robinson learn that she is the 2020 recipient of the Welsh Award.

Headshot of woman with short grey hair and a garnet tee shirt

Lisa Coulter, Environmental Services

Man with glasses and brown hair wearing a white apron and standing in an industrial kitchen.

Mike Davis, Dining Services

Woman with short grey hair and a bright red shirt smiles faintly at the camera

Angie DiPaolo, Dining Services

Woman with shoulder length blonde hair and bangs smiles at the camera.

Bernadette Dunning, Music and Dance Programs

Headshot of woman with shoulder length grey hair smiling and wearing a black top

Donna Fournier, Underhill Library

Headshot of woman with short curly brown hair smiling and wearing a patterned brown top.

Diane Fritz, Biology Department

Woman with long burgundy hair and a bright yellow top smiles at the camera

Hillary Grumbine, Student Health and Wellness

A smiling woman with blonde hair and glasses stands next to a smiling woman with short hair wearing a patterned red silk jacket, handing her an award.

Michelle Hartel, Dining Services

Rachel Head, right arm akimbo

Rachel Head, Dean's Office

Man with garnet polo shirt stands beside a woman with short hair wearing a patterned red silk jacket, handing him an award.

Kenny Jones, Dining Services

Man with short dark hair and glasses wearing a blue plaid button down.

Jeff Knerr, Computer Science Department

Man with light brown hair and a beard wearing a black polo shirt

Daniel Leach, Dining Services

Headshot of a man with close cropped hair who smiles faintly at the camera.

Les Leach, ITS

Headshot of a woman with long brown hair and black glasses grinning at the camera

Danielle Ledford, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Three people pose, grinning, in front of a wall of art. The man in the center is Steve Mack, who wears a dark button down shirt and pants and has a short beard and short hair

Steve Mack, Dining Services (center)

Headshot of a smiling woman with shoulder length brown hair and glasses.

Pat Martin, Off-campus Study Office

Woman with long black braid stands next to a woman with short hair wearing a patterned red silk jacket, handing her an award.

Mutabar Mills, Dining Services

Woman grins at the camera while holding a softball bat over her shoulder

Jen Moore, History Department

Headshot of smiling woman with dark hair wearing a statement necklace and dark top.

Kristin Moore, Financial Aid

Headshot of woman with shoulder length brown hair wearing a bright blue button down

Debbie Mulligan, Advancement

Smiling man with a shaved head wearing a black top sits at a table with a microphone

Benton Peak, Dining Services

Headshot of woman with close cropped black hair and a long side bang wearing a striped grey top

Dawn Philip, Counseling and Psychological Services

Man with glasses smiles at the camera. A sombrero hangs on an orange and yellow wall behind him.

David Ramirez, Counseling and Psychological Services

Woman with short curly brown hair and a dark red top stands next to College President Val Smith, who has short hair and glasses.

Denise Risoli, Business Office

Woman with long brown highlighted hair wearing a Swarthmore garnet tee shirt smiles at the camera

Ann Ruether, Engineering Department

Smiling blonde woman in a Swarthmore cheerleading outfit holds white pompoms up in the air.

Bethanne Seufert, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Headshot of woman with short brown hair wearing a light blue top and silk scarf.

Robin Huntington Shores, Institutional Research

Headshot of woman with close cropped brown hair and glasses, smiling at the camera.

Pam Shropshire, President's Office

Woman with short brown hair and glasses holds an award as she stands next to President Val Smith, who has short hair and glasses.

Stephanie Specht, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Headshot of man with short brown hair wearing a grey suit, white shirt, and dark tie.

Josh Throckmorton, Admissions

Woman with short brown hair and glasses wearing a checkered dress holding a microphone.

Melissa Tier '14, Office of Sustainability

Headshot of woman with long braids half up half down, smiling at the camera.

Ashley Turner, ITS

Headshot of man with a shaved head and glasses smiling at the camera, wearing a checkered button down shirt.

Patton Vo, Advancement

Lisa Coulter, Environmental Services

Photo /
1 of 33

Submissions Welcome

The Communications Office invites all members of the Swarthmore community to share videos, photos, and story ideas for the College's website. Have you seen an alum in the news? Please let us know by writing news@swarthmore.edu.