Kathleen (Kate) Dudley-Perry
Kathleen (Kate) Dudley-Perry, an academic advisor in Skidmore’s Opportunity Program for eight years, died Oct. 26, 2013, surrounded by family and friends. She was 37.
The daughter of Robert N. and Mary K. (Carney) Dudley, Kate was a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, St. Bonaventure University, Penn State University, and Sheffield University in England. She majored in English literature with a minor in Spanish.
She completed summer study at Oxford University and was the recipient of a number of honors, including a Rotary International Scholarship and designation as an International Scholar of Goodwill, and an award from the Modern Language Association for outstanding achievement in Spanish. She was also published four times in The Laurel, the nation’s oldest collegiate literary magazine.
A lifelong learner, she loved her job at Skidmore, where she worked first as a summer tutor in the Opportunity Program and, since 2005, as an academic counselor and English instructor for OP.
Helping students to learn was the essence of Kate’s career, which included positions as an employee in the Penn State University Learning Center, as a teacher and tutor at both Penn State and Butler County Community College, as an English teacher at State College High School in Pennsylvania, and as an English lecturer and tutor at SUNY Adirondack, before she joined the Skidmore community.
Kate once said of her work, “I delight in working with learners of all abilities and am committed to serving others by helping students master the skills necessary to reach their full academic potential.”
Colleagues and friends at Skidmore confirm that assessment. Jamin Totino, director of Student Academic Services who worked with Kate in OP, noted, “Her commitment to students was unwavering and her impact was meaningful. Always upbeat and smiling, she approached her work with deep sincerity and honesty. She was as smart and genuine as they come.”
Meg Hegener, coordinator for Student Access Services, worked with Kate for about seven years. Meg recalled Kate’s ability to focus on her students. “Her approach to everything was positive and contagious. Students felt empowered by her attitude and were able to go out and do their best work.” In the classroom or working one on one, “students gravitated to her,” Meg added.
As evidence of Kate’s positive approach, Meg said, “She signed all her memos ‘Blue Skies.’ ”
Meg and Jamin said that Kate’s love for her husband, Dominic, and their son Quinn was a central force in her life. Said Jamin, “Kate recently told me that Quinn’s laughter ‘was just the best sound I ever heard.’”
In addition to her husband, son, and parents, Kate is survived by her brother Robert (Meg) Dudley and nephew Liam Dudley, uncles and cousins, and her dog, Typo Tuesday.
Relatives and friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway.
Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar, Inc., Pine West Plaza, Building 3, Washington Avenue Ext., Albany, NY, 12205. Kate was a member of the group’s board of directors.
