When Syracuse University holds its 160th commencement next month, it will be without two longtime employees who ran the office charged with overseeing the ceremony.

Susan Germain, the former director of the Office of Special Events, retired from SU in February. A few weeks later, assistant director Josie Torrillo also retired. Germain worked for SU for 18 years, and Torrillo for 22.

Germain said she loved her job and was dedicated to SU. But, Germain said she felt she needed to leave because of constraints placed on her position. She declined to elaborate. Torrillo said she began to seriously think about her retirement after Germain left. If Germain had stayed, Torrillo said she would have, too.

“I can only say the best things about her as being my supervisor, but also a person, I’ve enjoyed working with every day,” Torrillo said.

When asked about the retirements, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Kevin Quinn said the planning of commencement happens throughout the year. It also involves multiple offices, he said in an email. On average, the Office of Special Events is a part of more than 40 major events per year, Quinn said, and commencement is only one of them.

He said the office has “institutionalized” and “documented” commencement so well it has allowed for consistency any time there have been staff changes in the past. Right now, the office has three members.

In the email, Quinn also thanked both Germain and Torrillo for their service to SU and wished them well.

University Marshal Shiu-Kai Chin, who’s responsible for guiding the chancellor’s party during commencement, said both Germain and Torrillo are “fine, outstanding people.” He said events such as commencement take hard work and competence to put together.

“I think the world of both of them,” Chin said.

Published on April 29, 2014 at 2:04 am

Contact Dylan: dmsegelb@syr.edu | @dylan_segelbaum