Wednesday, June 14, 2023

"Will you go, lassie go?"...Virginia Shank heads home!


It's true! After 11 years of laboring at the little college in the orange groves, Virginia Shank is returning to upstate New York to continue teaching at a community college there.  Rebel Girl has taken to pointing out to folks, even complete strangers, that Virginia accomplished more in eleven years than many do in their entire careers. Of course, there was much to do at IVC (ha!) when she arrived and Shank never shrank from tasks, challenges, opportunities. So much work! So much joy! And we and the students are so much better for it. And her new institution will be as well.

Here are some highlights of those eleven years, in no particular order despite initial efforts to do just that. 

Please add your own comments, and, if you like, send Rebel Girl your own photos to add to this, our informal photo album of our lives together.


From the OC Register, circa 2014, written by Andrew Tonkovich:
With her green eyes, red hair, porcelain skin, and stylish retro-Victorian ensembles suggesting both wit, good taste and an eye for vintage clothing-store finery, Virginia Shank unshyly personifies the romantic ideal of the English professor. This young poet and teacher originally from Eden, New York recently earned “Teacher of the Year” at Irvine Valley College, after teaching there only four semesters. The busy little community college in what’s left of an orange grove is lucky to have her. Professor Shank’s curriculum vitae is loaded for serious academic bear: PhD in English from Binghamton, MFA in poetry from University of Idaho, plenty of awards, research and accolades as a student and grad student…
Teacher of the Year

The Liberal Arts building takes shape, so much of its functionality and beauty due to Virginia's oversight and vision. Who put her on that committee? 12/6/2014

She revived The Ear, IVC's literary journal, against formidable odds and forces.

She brought a sense of style, classic and activist, to the campus.





At the Emigdio Vasquez mural dedication: September 2015.



So many Ear parties!
She was a key organizer of Banned Books Week.










2013


IVC Foundation honors Rosa Rodriguez, IVC's undocumented student activist, March 2018.

Women's March. Los Angeles. January 2017.

Women's March. Santa Ana. Junaary 2020.

Women's March. Santa Ana. January 2020.

Valentine's Day fundraiser for The Ear. 2019




Scene from the hiring committee. 2012.

South Coast Repertory. September 2017

Dia de los Muertos, Santa Ana.

When you had an art show, she showed up!

Juan Flores Peak, spring poppy bloom. Deep in her middle age, Rebel Girl finds it hard to make new friends. Virginia made it easy.  Rebel Girl is not losing a friend. Once you make one as good as Virginia, you don't lose them. You can't. That's what a friend is. Once made, unlost.

"Eclipse Hate: Stand with Charlottesville" in the A-quad. 8/21/2017

The Ear editors.  December 2022.

January 2023.

We wish Virginia and Mike all the best as they head east.
IVC Foundation Dinner March 2023  




Out to lunch with Roy in old town Orange. 2014

Commencement May 2023






Happy trails, dear Virginia! Stay free!

*The Corries: Will Ye Go Lassie Go (Wild Mountain Thyme; a Scottish folk song) 

2 comments:

Lou said...

Safe journey, Virginia. May you find the kinds of friends and community that have loved you here in your new home.

kzmeyer said...

"Search Committee"

Quipping “trifecta”
to our three-part question, you
dared frame Blake’s “Tyger,”
“[dove] . . . into the wreck” with Rich,
leaving us giddy with glee.

Eternally grateful, Kurt

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...