After 24 years at Guilford College, Bill Stevens, Dean for Continuing Education, will retire so he can spend more time with his family and concentrate on his farm. “I’m walking into an unknown situation,” Stevens said, “full of possibilities and fears.”

Since arriving in 1982, Stevens has acted as Associate Professor of Business Management and Director of the Business and Policy Division. For the past five years he has also been the Director of Summer School.

His most measurable success has come as Dean of Continuing Education. Since he took on the position in 2000, adult enrollment has risen 381 percent from 270 to 1,299 students.

Guilford now operates the largest evening Bachelors degree program in the Triad, offering Forensic Biology, Accounting, Business Management, Community and Justice Studies, Computer Information Systems, Criminal Justice, Education Studies, History, Political Science, and Psychology majors.

Stevens practices a philosophy of building on what people ask for.

“Most services are straightforward,” Stevens said. “If you just listen to the students then you can try to give them what they want.”

One such service is the childcare program now offered through the Sunshine House, which gives CCE students with children reliable and cost-effective childcare while they attend night and weekend classes.

“People asked for it,” Stevens said.

Stevens also believes that most things that serve adult students can serve traditional students too.

“Take Forensic Biology,” Stevens said. “Adult students supplied the demand and now traditional students can take advantage of it.”

Adrienne Israel, Vice President and Academic Dean, called Stevens a positive influence.

“He provided us with an example of what we can do if we have a passion for the college,” Israel said. “Student diversity has changed under his leadership both racially and age wise.”

Gary York, a Guilford alumnus and Board of Trustees member, hailed Stevens as a visionary and marketing genius.

“[Stevens] made the most significant impact of anybody in my 44-year association with Guilford,” York said. “He was always reaching to people who were having their second chance in life.”

“I’m a great believer in creativity,” Stevens said. “People have the ability to dream. There is a market for it.”

Stevens, who received his masters and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University, will now focus on expanding his blueberry and blackberry business on Wendover Avenue.

“It’s the last undeveloped piece of land on Wendover,” Stevens said. “It has all the perks of the country with only a three minute drive to the grocery store.”

Despite his retirement, Stevens won’t be abandoning academia entirely.

“I’ll be helping other universities expand their adult programs,” Stevens said.

Stevens plans on holding workshops, but says his intellectual interests won’t devour too much time from his family and farm.

“I will really miss him as a colleague,” Israel said. “You know where he stands and thinks. There aren’t any hidden agendas, and I appreciate that in him.”

Israel continued, “He has a passion for his job and the students. Seeing someone who enjoys coming to work was personally energizing to me.”

“Bill leaves a legacy,” York said. “Guilford owes a huge sense of gratitude for the Bill Stevens era.”

York continued, “I can’t say enough about the differences he’s made in other people’s lives. It was a Bill Stevens show and miracles happened.”

Stevens said he knows what he’ll think about on his final day.

“The faces of the students,” Stevens said. “Those that accomplished something they didn’t think they could and now their lives are better because of it.