We should have known.

Holding Dianne Hilliards farewell reception in the hallway outside the Bristlecone Art Gallery didnt effectively accommodate all of the people she has worked with and impacted during her 35-plus-year career at Western Nevada College. But the overflow crowd of well-wishers was appropriate. And the location wasnt far from where Dianne formerly registered students when she started working at the college in the late 1980s.
Dianne has earned the respect of many people at WNCC and WNC, and many of them interrupted their summer fun or work on June 29 to wish her well in the next stage of her life.
In retirement Dianne promises to do more for herself especially recreationally. She stopped short of saying that shed play volleyball again (as you can see from the accompanying photo that shows her playing volleyball during a college picnic), but she did say to count her in for some waterskiing.
Cathy Fulkerson, Coral Lopez, Scott Morrison, JW Lazzari and Chelsie Hamtak, and more took turns telling stories about Dianne. The overriding theme was Diannes dedication, work ethic and unabashed propensity to tell it like it is.
One of the longest-serving employees in the colleges history, Hilliard began her WNC legacy in 1987. She capped her outstanding career bringing students into the college as Admissions and Records director and registrar. She also has been instrumental in making the colleges commencement ceremonies so successful, even after the pandemic forced a change from the traditional format to a drive-through ceremony.
Earlier in her WNC career, Hilliard oversaw student government, served as a counselor and was once the interim dean of Student Services.
Of course, Dianne wont be leaving us completely. Dianne has agreed to serve in a part-time role to assist the college in the transition period of training her replacement.
The college and students have been fortunate that she has devoted most of her adult life to higher education.
We will certainly miss you, Dianne!