Wheaton News

A trio of distinguished Wheaton College alumni will receive awards for service from the Alumni Board of Directors on Saturday, May 16, 2026, during Reunion Weekend.

Margo Walsh ’86 will be recognized for alumni leadership, Dr. Tony Laing ’96 for outstanding service to Wheaton and Ryan Parker ’01 for fostering community.

Alumni Leadership Award
Walsh will receive the Alumni Leadership Award for her efforts to help individuals recovering from substance abuse disorder and reentering society after incarceration. The award pays tribute to exceptional professional achievements, personal life achievements and public service.

Walsh majored in psychology at Wheaton and began her career as a recruiter within the financial sector as a Wheaton intern at Bankers Trust Co. As part of her personal recovery journey, she volunteered in a pre-release dorm at a prison. Walsh found that individuals with a criminal record had difficulty finding and keeping a job after their release.

To address this problem, Walsh founded MaineWorks in 2011. She serves as CEO of the social staffing agency, an employment social enterprise that provides stable employment for individuals in recovery and reentry.

Walsh later co-founded United Recovery Fund with her sister, Elaine Walsh Carney, to offer clients solutions to employment obstacles, including rent assistance, transportation, work gear, mobile phones and access to dental and healthcare services.

In 2024, Cecil’s Place Sober Living was established to provide housing for the workforce at MaineWorks, which has expanded to offer services in four cities: Portland, Augusta and Bangor, Maine; and Manchester, N.H. With the support of MaineWorks, and their unique system of ‘housing, help and employment,’ over 2,500 individuals have gained a second chance at a stable life.

Outstanding Wheaton Service Award
Dr. Tony Laing ’96 will receive the Sharon M. Howard ’87, P’09 Outstanding Wheaton Service Award for his 30 years of active engagement and service to the college as an alum.

The award honors alumni who have made a significant contribution or provided ongoing service to Wheaton.

Laing majored in comparative political science and earned a master’s degree from both Harvard and New York universities, and a Ph.D. in educational policy studies and organizational leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

An expert in fostering a community of belonging, he is the founder and CEO of Laing Equity Education Group, which specializes in fostering inclusive environments, educational equity, and social impact through collaborative diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging solutions across the K–12 and higher education spaces. He is also an associate lecturer in the Program for the Advancement of Learning at Curry College.

Laing spent a decade as a key member of the college’s Black Alumni Steering Committee. He founded Wheaton’s first Men of Color Alumni listserv and fostered support for students and graduates of color. After 10 years as a devoted and thoughtful member of the Board of Trustees, he received emeritus status last year.

In her nomination of Laing, Trustee Indira Henard ’03 wrote, “He has demonstrated an unwavering, purpose-driven commitment to advancing the institution’s excellence, strengthening its community, and championing equity, access and inclusion at every level. His service is not only distinguished—it is exemplary, visionary and deeply impactful.”

Also a proud Wheaton benefactor, his leadership gift supporting student internships expanded access to experiential learning.

Fostering Wheaton Community Award 
Ryan Parker ’01 will receive the Heather J. Corbett ’86 Fostering Wheaton Community Award for serving as a volunteer assistant coach of the baseball team for 15 seasons.

The award honors alumni whose ‘unsung’ contributions have created deep connections within the Wheaton community.

Parker earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Wheaton and a master’s degree in higher education counseling from Bridgewater State University.

During his tenure as an assistant coach, the baseball team captured 10 NEWMAC conference championships, made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and three Division 3 World Series trips and participated in two national championship games.

In addition to serving as a pitching coach and recruiting assistant, he played a central role in developing student-athletes on and off the field and maintaining meaningful connections with them beyond their time at Wheaton.

“I don’t know if volunteer coaches at Wheaton are given their proper recognition,” said John Sutyak ’00 in his nomination. “However, there is nobody other than Ryan Parker who has invested 30- to 40-hour weeks for four and a half months over 15 years in the development of the program and its student-athletes.”

Parker worked for five years with Heather Corbett in Alumni Relations and is honored to receive an award bearing her name.

The co-founder and head coach of Troy (N.Y.) Baseball Expo, a nonprofit organization that provides free baseball instruction, academic advising and workforce development to local youth, Parker currently serves as pitching coach and recruiting assistant for the Union College baseball team in Schenectady, N.Y.