Darla Inglish

Honorary Membership
Midwestern State University

Darla Inglish, retired as University Registrar from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, February 28, 2022, after 36 years of full-time service to the university (38 if student assistant time is included.). 

She began her career in higher education as a student assistant, serving as the secretary for the Chemistry Department, even though she did not “speak” Chemistry.  To type the subscripts and superscripts in chemical formulas, it required rolling the platen of the typewriter up or down.  (Many young ones in the audience have no idea what that last sentence just meant, having never had to use a typewriter! ). Upon graduation from MSU with her BBA degree she worked as the Secretary in the College of Education.  While working there, the position of Administrative Assistant to the University Registrar came open, and in February 1989, her career in our profession began.  It was a combined Office of the Registrar and Admissions, and in addition to being the Registrar’s Administrative Assistant, she was responsible for all graduate and post-baccalaureate admissions.  She was the first to type the MSU catalog into a Word Processing program, as the University moved to a new publishing process.  She worked her way up through the office serving various roles, such as Assistant to the Registrar/TASP Coordinator (name for TSI initially), Assistant Registrar, then Associate Registrar; prior to being named Interim Registrar in 2001; and University Registrar in 2003. 

She served on numerous system implementation teams, and co-chaired the Banner system implementation with Chris Gore. Darla championed the cause for bringing document imaging to the MSU campus, after visiting numerous institutions to learn about changing from microfilm process to imaging.  She also was instrumental in proposing the change to an online catalog system at MSU. She was also so happy to see her many-year dream of 24/7 online transcript requests and third party processing brought to fruition prior to her retirement.  She considers herself so blessed to have been mentored by former MSU Registrar, Billye Tims, one of her dearest friends still today.  She is so proud of the many accomplishments that were made as a team in the Office of the Registrar, and for instituting Registrar Retreats, where team building, and refresh/review and planning took place prior to each fall semester.  She considers herself additionally blessed to have had the best and most knowledgeable TSI coordinator, and Banner Guru as her Senior Associate Registrar, and dear friend,  Jamie Wilson.  She is thankful for all of the staff with whom she worked over the years and knows that any accomplishments made were only possible through the teamwork and hard work they shared.

Darla first attended TACRAO in 1998 in College Station.  She served on or chaired numerous committees, and moderated and recorded sessions, prior to being nominated for official roles.  She served as the Local Arrangements Chair for TACRAO 2003 in Wichita Falls, which remains legendary for the free Mavericks BBQ meal and adult beverages, cooked and served by true WF mavericks!  She served as TACRAO Vice President for Records and Registration 2004-2006; and considers being elected and serving as TACRAO president for the 2016 conference in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, the highlight of her career.  Historically, TACRAO 2016 may be the only conference during which the awards and recognition luncheon had to be prematurely dismissed due to swarming bees!

She is thankful for the many professional development opportunities which TACRAO provided throughout her career, as well as the collegiality and professional work relationships and friendships with staff of entities such as THECB, and the Banner Texas Connection, which her profession afforded her.  Most importantly, she is thankful for the many precious friendships made all over this enormous state via TACRAO connections; and for the love and support of her family and friends in a profession that requires so much heart, soul, and personal time away in order to better serve our students.

Darla has retired her mortar board and title of University Registrar, and gained the most special role of all, that of Grand Dar Dar to her precious  grandson, Jesse Parker Clayton, son of her daughter Amber and son-in-law Brian.  He is the light of her life!  Darla and her husband, Ben reside in Iowa Park, Texas with their 3 dogs, Jaxx, Jill, and Bit.

She would like to especially recognize her Daddy, Jesse Flick, whose health did not permit him to attend; but who along with her late mother Norma, instilled in her the strong work ethic, business ideals, and commitment to customer service, which helped her to achieve success in her career.  Special recognition and thanks go to her family members in attendance this evening, her husband Ben, and her sisters Lynette Meisel, and Emilie Sherrod.  

 


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