For 24 years, Accounts Payable Coordinator Darlene Donlan has done the quiet, essential work that keeps Nobles running—one receipt, one solved problem, and one small kindness at a time. During this year’s opening meetings for faculty and staff, Head of School Cathy Hall, Ph.D., recognized Donlan’s impact by presenting her with the Cora Hidalgo Holland Award.
Named after Nobles’ parent Cora Hidalgo Holland, who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, the award honors a member of the school staff whose work has been excellent, whose dedication has been exceptional, and whose character has made Nobles a better place in which to live and work for the entire community.
“For the last 24 years, Darlene has been an anchor of our Nobles community,” said Hall. “While her work is often behind the scenes in our business office, her impact on our community is deep and wide. Darlene always brings tremendous professionalism and care to her work and our Nobles community. She is someone many at Nobles consider a trusted friend, a colleague who they can rely on to bring her positivity, compassion, and care each and every day.”
Colleagues across departments described Donlan as a steady presence whose generosity and care extend far beyond her official role.
Controller Lisa Durken expresses appreciation for the care and selflessness that characterize her work: “Whether she’s talking with vendors, tracking down credit card receipts, or making special iced coffee treats for the team, Darlene approaches every task with exceptional dedication and attention to detail.”
Chief Equity Officer Edgar De Leon ’04 highlights the important role that Donlan plays in programs across the school, sharing, “Upward Bound could not exist without the care and oversight of someone like Darlene. She has always treated me and the program with tremendous patience, and whenever I bring her something that seems impossible, she responds with a reassuring, ‘No problem.’ Even amid the chaos, Darlene’s professionalism and steady presence are qualities I deeply appreciate.”
Accounts Receivable Coordinator Mary Wallace described Donlan as both a colleague and a friend: “She is always the first to step up when someone is in need and is one of the most giving people I know, always ready to lend a hand and put others’ needs before her own.”
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Head of School Steve Ginsberg has come to rely on Donlan’s precision and judgment. “I have grown to deeply trust and rely on her work for a very important function of the school for many years,” he shares. “More important than the work, Darlene is one of the most thoughtful colleagues I have worked with, and she cares deeply about the people and the school.”