(From left) Dr. Rebecca Wilson (West ’03),
Dr. de Wet and Dr. Jack Bourla (West ’97). |
Palmer’s West Campus recently honored
retiring faculty member Gary de Wet,
D.C. (Davenport ’66), whose collective
Palmer career spanned more than two
decades and included teaching tenures
at the Davenport as well as San Jose
campuses.
The retirement reception was attended by
faculty, staff, students and alumni, and
event highlights included special award
presentations by the Faculty Senate and
Associated Student Government (ASG).
West Campus President Bill Meeker, D.C.,
M.P.H., also announced that Dr. de Wet
had received an emeritus faculty appointment,
and presented him with a plaque in
recognition of this honor.
“The people of the West Campus have
been my second family, and the event felt
more like a family celebration and party,
not a sad farewell,” says Dr. de Wet.
“I was equally humbled and honored
by the emeritus faculty appointment;
it only strengthens my desire and
commitment to continue serving Palmer
College, and assisting our alumni, in
any way that I can.”
Dr. de Wet maintained private practices
in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Napa,
Calif., prior to joining the Davenport
Campus faculty in 1977. He taught at
the Davenport Campus until 1981, when
he moved to California and returned to
private practice in Napa. In 1990, Dr. de
Wet was appointed to the West Campus
faculty and served as the principal
instructor in the business classes of
the expanded 13th Quarter program.
His involvement with organizations and
clubs included serving two terms as Faculty
Senate president, as faculty adviser to
ASG for 14 years, as adviser to the student
chapter of the California Chiropractic
Association for more than 15 years, and
as adviser to the Philosophy Club.
He served as West Campus alumni
director, and also chaired the West
Campus Homecoming planning
committee. “Dr. de Wet’s involvement
with the development of our businessfocused
13th quarter curriculum,
his spirited mentorship as the faculty
adviser of multiple campus clubs, his
ongoing interactions with Palmer alumni,
and his deep-rooted commitment to
advancing Palmer College and the
chiropractic profession collectively factored
into the well-deserved emeritus
faculty appointment,” says Dr. Meeker.