Alumna Leila Gordon, Class of 1978, attended Shipley from Kindergarten through 12th grade. While a student, she took part in many clubs, including world affairs, tutoring, outing club, and yearbook. Ms. Gordon was also an active participant in athletics, playing field hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and tennis. Following in the footsteps of her mother Ray McLean Gordon, Class of 1949, as well as her great aunt and her older sister, it’s possible that attending Shipley may have been a foregone conclusion for Ms. Gordon. Serving Shipley, however, was a choice she had to make all on her own.

After Shipley, Ms. Gordon attended Trinity College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and she then earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Villanova University. Ms. Gordon then embarked on a successful investment management career and began raising her two sons, Clayton Dyer, Shipley Class of 2012 and McLean Dyer, Shipley Class of 2014. It wasn’t long, however, before Ms. Gordon answered the call to help serve her alma mater. Eager to help Shipley in whatever way she could, Ms. Gordon applied her professional skills and affinity for finance in many of her volunteer roles. She served on the Board of Trustees from 1995 to 1998, on the Alumni Board from 1997 to 2001, as Treasurer of Shipley Shops from 2006 to 2010, as Treasurer for the Spring Auction in 2009, and as Annual Giving Class Agent from 2009 to 2012. Not surprisingly, she is hosting the Class of 1978 for their 35th reunion Class Party this weekend. These are just some of the ways in which Ms. Gordon has served Shipley. Suffice it to say that, when the School has called on Ms. Gordon to help, she has always answered with alacrity and enthusiasm.

Perhaps one of Ms. Gordon’s greatest volunteer contributions to Shipley has been as a vocal advocate. She jumps at any chance to praise her Shipley experience, and though her role as an ambassador is an unofficial one, it’s a job that she loves and takes seriously.

In truth, it would be impossible to enumerate the myriad contributions that Ms. Gordon has made to Shipley during the decades that she has served the School. She has contributed time, talent, and financial support, which have made both a positive impact on Shipley’s success and a lasting impression on those who have worked alongside her. For Ms. Gordon’s unwavering service and dedication to Shipley, we are pleased to present her with the 2013 Alumni Service Award.