“As I get closer to the end of my career, I looked back at the people who were responsible for helping me obtain the success that I had, and I wanted to do something to say thank you,” Lucy said. “Rich was a big part of that. I got to do something that I love. It’s my way of paying it forward.”
In addition to honoring Dempsey, Lucy, a first-generation student, also wanted to honor his alma mater.
“Neither of my parents went to college,” Lucy said. “My dad worked three jobs to support us while my mother would manage the household. By attending Penn State, I was able to learn on IBM equipment, and that knowledge was one of the keys to getting me my first job at, of course, IBM. Having Penn State on my transcript helped as well, as they realized that I didn’t need as much training as others that they might have hired. Needless to say, my starting salary was much higher than anyone I knew without a degree.”
Dempsey retired from Penn State Scranton as an associate professor of computer science/information sciences and technology after a 34-year teaching career there, during which he served as program coordinator for Penn State’ Commonwealth College IST program and received the Campus Advisory Board Award for Excellence in Teaching.
As one of the first IST faculty members and leaders at the campus, he became a driving force behind building its technology programs and facilities, while his love of technology and genuine care for students fueled his commitment to creating the best possible learning environment.