Convocation honors former president
By: Breanna Herschelman
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: News
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After the change, Wexler did not stay with the sisters or at Webster much longer.
"She felt the fact that she was a Sister of Loretto was an obstacle to Webster becoming secular," Sakurai said.
Once Wexler left the institution, she came back every few years to visit with her sisters and remained close with many alumni and friends.
Meyers said he was approached by a group of alumni from that era who emphasized the importance of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the decision. He said he made the decision to give Wexler an honorary degree from the time the university began planning the event. Meyers said this is the third time Webster has given out an honorary degree outside commencement, which is the university's highest honor. The first two degrees went to Valery Giscard d'Estaing, former president of France in 1988, and Indonesian President and Webster alumnus Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2005.
"The convocation was beyond my expectations," Meyers said. "When you plan for something, you can plan the sequence of events, but you don't know what the emotions will be like. It was a very warm ceremony."
Wexler said Meyers approached her about the ceremony in spring 2007. She and her husband Paul now live in Florida.
Jules del Vecchio, a relative by marriage of Wexler, attended the event to support her. Del Vecchio's son Matt Huffman, a Webster graduate, also attended. Del Vecchio's wife Phyllis Huffman graduated from Webster and worked as a casting director in Los Angeles for many years before she died two years ago.
Del Vecchio said Wexler has been a great educator to not only students but family members as well. He said her efforts brought many family members to Webster for their education.
"She is an amazing, brilliant lady," del Vecchio said. "She set Webster on a new course."
Wexler was born in rural Illinois on a farming community in 1926. She attended Webster and got a double degree in math and English. As a teacher and sister, she lived in many places, including Texas, where she met Sister Francetta Barberis. Sister Barberis became president of Webster and convinced Wexler to become her vice president.
Wexler served on President John F. Kennedy's board for science and President Lyndon B. Johnson's educational advisory board. Her role on these boards led her to serve on a committee that eventually put together the Head Start program for early childhood development.
"She felt the fact that she was a Sister of Loretto was an obstacle to Webster becoming secular," Sakurai said.
Once Wexler left the institution, she came back every few years to visit with her sisters and remained close with many alumni and friends.
Meyers said he was approached by a group of alumni from that era who emphasized the importance of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the decision. He said he made the decision to give Wexler an honorary degree from the time the university began planning the event. Meyers said this is the third time Webster has given out an honorary degree outside commencement, which is the university's highest honor. The first two degrees went to Valery Giscard d'Estaing, former president of France in 1988, and Indonesian President and Webster alumnus Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2005.
"The convocation was beyond my expectations," Meyers said. "When you plan for something, you can plan the sequence of events, but you don't know what the emotions will be like. It was a very warm ceremony."
Wexler said Meyers approached her about the ceremony in spring 2007. She and her husband Paul now live in Florida.
Jules del Vecchio, a relative by marriage of Wexler, attended the event to support her. Del Vecchio's son Matt Huffman, a Webster graduate, also attended. Del Vecchio's wife Phyllis Huffman graduated from Webster and worked as a casting director in Los Angeles for many years before she died two years ago.
Del Vecchio said Wexler has been a great educator to not only students but family members as well. He said her efforts brought many family members to Webster for their education.
"She is an amazing, brilliant lady," del Vecchio said. "She set Webster on a new course."
Wexler was born in rural Illinois on a farming community in 1926. She attended Webster and got a double degree in math and English. As a teacher and sister, she lived in many places, including Texas, where she met Sister Francetta Barberis. Sister Barberis became president of Webster and convinced Wexler to become her vice president.
Wexler served on President John F. Kennedy's board for science and President Lyndon B. Johnson's educational advisory board. Her role on these boards led her to serve on a committee that eventually put together the Head Start program for early childhood development.
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