Faculty and staff members gathered recently to celebrate Wendy Mitchell's twenty-five years at the Lundquist College of Business. Currently the assistant dean for undergraduate programs, Mitchell will step down from that position when she retires at the end of December 2011. After earning her MBA here in 1985, Mitchell returned to teach the BA 101 course in 1986 and went on serve in a wide range of leadership positions throughout the college. "I backed into the best job of my entire life," Mitchell remarked recently. And indeed, the feeling is mutual. "Wendy is an unfailingly considerate colleague who insists that every opinion be heard and respected," said Andrew Verner, assistant dean for graduate programs. What's next? Though skiing, backpacking, a trip to Scotland for golfing and hiking, learning French, and playing the piano all figure into her plans, "having an unscheduled day is the thing that excites me most," according to Mitchell.