Each year, Wagner College Residential Education student and professional staff identify a person who has been a great ally, supporter and confidant of the residential student experience. This year, Senior Director of Dining Services Robert Soltmann and Executive Chef Michael Purpura have been honored with this award.
Soltmann and Purpura are employed by Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services, which manages the Wagner College food service.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit college and university communities especially hard. Though our students have all left campus and are pursuing their coursework online for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester, Wagner College Dining still supports over 40 essential personnel on campus each day — including residential education, public safety, maintenance and housekeeping staff members — by providing them with hot breakfast, lunch and dinner service.
“My team was so eager and excited to note their extreme thanks for all you do,” said Residential Education Director Thomas Tressler-Gelok when writing to Bob Soltmann and Mike Purpura about their award, “with a special notation of all you have been doing to support the staff, students and faculty during this pandemic. Your willingness to go above and beyond, support our students, and be dynamic partners for us does not go unnoticed. Bob and Mike: thank you.”
