A crowd of family, colleagues, students and friends wished the deputy vice-chancellor luck in his retirement this week, as he bade adieu to an “enjoyable” 30-year career.

The Riverina man came to Wagga as a lecturer in 1987 and worked his way through a number of positions; all the while educating, inspiring and enabling his many students.

He held leadership positions across all of CSU's faculties and was made Dean of studies 2011.

The following year, Professor Dillon was appointed deputy vice-chancellor of administration. 

Professor Dillon said every student had the capacity to make a difference and a highlight of his career was helping students and staff “do great things”. 

“I’m very proud of what I’ve been able to achieve,” Professor Dillon said. 

“I was given the opportunity and the privilege to do it and for me it’s a time I’ll never forget and something I’ll always cherish.”

Professor Dillon said he was touched by the number of cards, letters and flowers he had received from students he taught more than 30 years ago.  

“That’s been great,” he said.

“It just goes to show was a privilege it’s been to make a small difference in the lives of so many people.”

The library science and information studies expert focused on promoting education to transform lives and developed sustainable regional communities, according to his colleagues.  

At his farewell on Friday, Professor Dillon said he and his wife, who retired from Ashmont Public School two-weeks earlier, would stay in Wagga, travel and spend time with their family.

Wagga’s head of campus Miriam Dayhew said the professor’s absence would leave a significant hole at the university. 

“Ken’s had an enormous influence on the university,” Ms Dayhew said. 

“His corporate knowledge, his personality, his personality will be a loss.” 

She said her gratitude also extended to his work for the wider higher education sector and the communities of regional NSW.

“His legacy is greater than Ken,” Ms Dayhew said. 

“It’s all the people he has influenced, developed and helped.”