Marsha Tilden
While an Ohio Wesleyan student, OWU Wellness Center Director Marsha Tilden met her future husband, Scott, though her roommate’s boyfriend. ‘I always tell people I married a townie,’ she says, laughing. (Photo by Linda O’Horo)
Marsha (Herrmann) Tilden has served as director for the OWU Wellness Center for 11 years, but her roots here stretch back to 1977, when she arrived at Ohio Wesleyan from Bluffton, Ohio, as a first-year student.
Tilden graduated in 1981 as a registered nurse from OWU’s former nursing program and later earned her master’s degree in science from The Ohio State University. Today, she is a certified nurse practitioner.
Over the years, she wanted to return to Ohio Wesleyan and had inquired periodically about job openings in the OWU Wellness Center. Following her graduation from OSU in 1999, she landed her job after the retirement of 30-year OWU physician and health center director David Nardin, M.D. The University had decided to hire a nurse practitioner for the position.
“I love Ohio Wesleyan,” Tilden says. “It was very, very special to return to my alma mater to work.
“Much of my role is health education—especially for the first-year students,” Tilden continues. “We see students for various physical and mental health-related needs. I also do gynecological exams for the female students.”
Daughters Jennifer (OWU Class of 2007) and Jaclyn (OWU Class of 2010) are both teachers, and son, Michael (The College of Wooster Class of 2005), works in banking.
Tilden’s hobbies include reading, cooking, and crocheting.
She also enjoys working with two other OWU grads. Registered nurse Heather Klumpp, Class of 1993, is the daughter of former director Dr. Nardin. And Jason Diehl, M.D., Class of 1996, is a contracted physician for the OWU Wellness Center.