Dottie Keffala

We would like to share with all of our members, the recipient of the prestigious “Volunteer of the Year” for 2007 - Dottie Keffala.

Retirement Association for many years, including several years as a Director on the Board. She has also served for numerous years on the Volunteer Committee, which is responsible for organizing all of the Association’s volunteer efforts as well as on the Program Committee, which selects the Association’s programs and activities. Additionally, Dottie has volunteered for just about every event the Association has served, including the International Café, Sharecase, Annuitants Fair, People Expo, Admit Day, Human Resources Middle Management Advance, Core Cell Vendor Fair, Staff Association Picnic, Small Business Vendor Fair, and UCSD Open House for several years in a row. She has been a regular member of the Gazette Groupies, a fun group of members who come together each month to collate, staple, fold and label the Association's newsletter, the Gazette. She’s always willing to pitch in and help carry out the Association’s many activities and events.

Dottie retired in April 1992 from her highly visible position as Assistant to Chancellor Richard Atkinson, whom she had faithfully served for some twelve years. Her entire service to UCSD spanned more than 20 years; starting out as an assistant to the first UCSD Librarian, Mel Voigt, then hired by Martin Chamberlain to work in the first UCSD Public Relations Department. Dottie says her many years of working for Chancellor Atkinson were “a fulfilling and learning experience”. She loved working with students, but also could be tough, when the occasion called for it. A visitor trying to get in to see the Chancellor once mused aloud “You may get past the receptionist, but then you turn the corner and you don’t get past the Dragon Lady!”. Dottie, or “Dragon Lady” won the prestigious “UCSD Exemplary Employee of the Year” Award in 1991.

Not bad for a gal who only learned English when she started school at age six! Dottie grew up speaking Italian in Marcus Hook, a tiny town in Pennsylvania on the Delaware River. After her first year of college at the University of Delaware, Dottie moved to California, where she finished her AA degree. Dottie has always promoted education, at home and at work, and is proud of her three daughters, two whom earned PhD's and one who earned an MA. She is doted on by her three daughters and is the proud grandmother of seven.

Dottie has also served on the volunteer VIP Campus Tours team, as a tutor at the International Center, and in the Resale Shop.

Dottie is known for her impeccable personal integrity and warm and caring personality. She is truly a renaissance woman who loves the opera, good books, museums, fine music and good conversation.

Congratulations, Dottie, for your many jobs well done!