Virginia Gray, who retired as director of the Office of Open Learning in 2007, died May 17. She is survived by her husband, Prof. Christopher Gray, Department of Physics.
Her University of Guelph career spanned 38 years, during which time her commitment to lifelong learning helped to transform the University into an internationally recognized provider of continuing and distance education programs. She also served the University as a member of the Board of Governors, Senate, the Board of Undergraduate Studies, the Senate International Committee, the Senate Committee on Open Learning and the Access for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee.
A former chair of the University’s United Way campaign, she was also active in the Guelph community and in professional organizations. She received the 2006 Guelph YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction lifetime achievement award in education and training, was an honorary member of the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education and the Ontario Council for University Lifelong Learning, and was named an Honorary Fellow of the University of Guelph in 2008.
A celebration of the life of Virginia Gray will be held at a later date.