2005 Recipient,
Susan Dankel
About | The Speech Delivered By Ms. Dankel | Photos from the Event
Susan Dankel will be recognized as an “Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholar” on Thursday, November 3, 2005. This award is given annually by the UNCW Honors Scholars Program and Randall Library to a person from the Cape Fear area who exemplifies the attributes or interests of Albert Schweitzer. Each Scholar delivers a lecture to the freshman honors seminar, and is recognized for his or her contributions to the region at the annual program and reception.
The Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars program is the legacy of the Albert Schweitzer International Prizes. From 1973 to 1993, the Prizes were awarded at UNCW to recognize individuals who had contributed significantly in the areas on music, medicine, or humanities- areas that exemplify the interests and contributions of Albert Schweitzer. Each Scholar is chosen by students and faculty in the Honors Program based on his or her contributions in one of these areas.
Ms. Dankel is being recognized for her leadership in music for over 20 years in Southeastern North Carolina. She has served multiple terms on the Board of Directors of WHQR public radio, as well as serving as a volunteer producer and announcer. A life-long interest in classical music, along with experience as a manager and college teacher and a commitment to Wilmington's cultural community, provides a strong foundation for her work in public radio. Susan became general manager of WHQR in 1999, following a 24-year career in Wilmington city government.
Susan was born on December 16, 1946, in Whitmire, South Carolina. She graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia in 1964. In 1968 she received a B.A. with honors in philosophy at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. She did a graduate work in that subject at Duke University from 1968 to 1971.
From 1972 to 1974 Susan was a part-time Instructor in philosophy at UNCW. She did further graduate study in public administration at UNC -Chapel Hill in 1977.
Susan worked for the City of Wilmington from 1975 until 1999. During her tenure there she was assistant city manager for 10 years and city budget officer for 10 years. As project manager, she took on the renovation of City Hall/Thalian Hall, and construction of the five-level downtown parking deck. She also coordinated five successful bond referenda.
Since becoming general manager of WHQR Public Radio in August, 1999, Susan has increased the station's broadcast power from 10,000 watts to 100,000 watts. She has diversified programming consistent with station's mission, developed a plan for studio expansion and equipment replacement, and increased operating revenues from a variety of sources.
Previous recipients of the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholar Award are: Gerald Shinn, PhD., professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at UNCW, who established the original Albert Schweitzer International Prizes, and Kenneth White, MD, local physician who is also know n for his years of organizing and spearheading medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic that involved volunteers from the Wilmington area, and Margaret Weller-Stargell, President and chief executive officer of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., dedicated to providing crisis intervention and substance abuse prevention outreach services in the Wilmington area.
Address on Receiving the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars Award for 2004