Virginia Ann Gordon

Dr. Virginia N. Gordon passed away just short of her 90th birthday in the comfort of her home on November 21, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 13, 1927, to the late Milo and Irma Niswonger of Dayton, OH, and moved to Columbus to attend Ohio State University in 1945. She was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-seven years, Dr. George Gordon DDS, who died in 1987, and her sisters and their spouses Phyllis and Robert Fackler of Colorado Springs, CO, and Marilyn and Sam Hagans of Dayton, OH. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, David and Charlette Gordon of Cincinnati, OH, Robert Gordon, his fiancé Barbara Peterson of Columbus, OH, and Barbara's daughter Alexandra Clint of New York, NY, and Catherine Gordon and husband Stephen Lucas of Providence, RI. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Sean Gordon of Cincinnati, OH, Jason Wickes, wife Eileen, and daughter Casey of Cincinnati, OH, Andrew Gordon-Seifert of Akron, OH, Patrick Gordon-Seifert of Basel, Switzerland, Katelyn Gordon of Cincinnati, OH, and Alyssa Gordon of Columbus, OH. She is also survived by six nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.

Virginia Gordon, Ph.D., was an extraordinarily accomplished woman. She was an associate professor at The Ohio State University and served as the second woman assistant dean (emeritus) in University College. She was a founding member of the National Academic Advising Association and served as its president during the 1980s and thereafter in many other capacities, and was the founder and first director of the National Clearinghouse on Academic Advising. She was nationally recognized for her innovative work in the field of Academic Advising and served University College (UVC) at Ohio State for 21 years. She has written fifty books, monographs, book chapters, and journal articles on career counseling, advising administration, advising undecided college students, and advisor training. Through her research on the undecided student, she shaped the way advisors work with this population. She was a charter member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and provided leadership for this organization throughout her long career. To honor her contributions to the organization, NACADA named their most distinguished award after her. The Virginia N. Gordon Award is given to those who have made significant contributions to the field of academic advising. She appears in An Encyclopedia of Pathbreaking Women at the Ohio State University that acknowledges her mentorship of and impact on young professional women pursuing careers in higher education. Virginia Gordon received The College of Education and Human Ecology Alumni Society at the Ohio State University's Career Achievement Award in 2016.

One of her greatest loves was the work she did for Mortar Board, a National College Senior Honors Society. She was selected to The Ohio State University Mortar Board chapter in 1948. She was a chapter advisor, section coordinator, member of the National Council, a Trustee of the Mortar Board National Foundation, and a member of the Ohio State Mortar Board Alumni Council. She received the national Distinguished Lifetime Member Award in 2004. She was the proud mother and grandmother of two Mortar Board members, daughter Catherine Gordon (Bowling Green State University) and Katelyn Gordon (The Ohio State University). She also served as Honorary Co-Chair of the organization's Centennial Anniversary. She devoted many hours to researching and writing the history of the OSU chapter. No one knew more or cared more about the chapter's past and its future than Virginia Gordon.

Her greatest love was for her family, which she expressed in many ways, including her service as Girl Scout leader for her daughter's Troop 53. She organized many camping trips, extended visits to Washington DC and Mexico City, and a myriad of projects that enriched the lives of the young scouts. Before her death, members of Troop 53 gathered to honor her during their 2017 reunion. Friends and family members alike referred to her as "everyone's mom." Throughout her life, she served as the heart of her extended family. She made sure that family members stayed connected, were always aware of the latest family news, and provided a place where family members would gather and enjoy the love and security of the family she created. She will be profoundly missed by her family and many friends, whom she encouraged and inspired.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Virginia Gordon's name to The Ohio State University Foundation Fund #313764 that benefits Ohio State Mortar Board (Ohio State University Foundation, PO Box 710811, Columbus OH 43271-0811) or to the National Mortar Board Foundation (Mortar Board National Office, 1200 Chambers Road, Suite 201, Columbus, Ohio 43212, 614-488-4094).

Funeral service will be held at 6 P.M. Monday, November 27, 2017 at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd., where family will receive friends from 4 P.M. until time of service Monday.