2004Retirement Program

Thursday, April 29, 2004

Retirement Luncheon ProgramCentennial Student Union

Minnesota State University, MankatoMankato, Minnesota

11:30 A.M. Luncheon

12:30 P.M. ProgramComments by President Richard Davenport

1:00 P.M. Public Reception

29 April 2004

Dear Retirees:

I wish to express to you on behalf of the Minnesota State University,Mankato community our appreciation for your many years ofdedicated service to this University. I am particularly thankful for allof your roles in promoting a successful student-oriented learningenvironment.

I extend my personal appreciation for your valuable years of serviceand wish you well as you begin new directions. I hope that you willremember fondly your many MSU friends and remain in contact withyour University. It has been a pleasure to work with people who careso much.

Sincerely yours,

Richard DavenportPresident

2004 Retiring Faculty and Staff

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Frank R. BirminghamDr. Birmingham is retiring as the Director of Library Media Education after34 years. He received his BA in 1963 from St. Francis College, his MAfrom Georgetown University, and his Ph.D. from The Catholic University ofAmerica in 1970. He came to MSU from teaching social studies and AVDirector at an inner city Washington, D.C. high school. Frank enjoyed his34 years at MSU and stated that the students, faculty and staff have all beengood to work with. He also will fondly remember his 13 months as Dean ofthe Library and his experiences working with graduate students in librarymedia. After retirement he plans to continue his travels to China and Tibet,and will spend winters in Florida and summers in Minnesota.

William Roy DeMareeDr. DeMaree is retiring as a Professor in the Department of Sociology &Corrections after 37 years. While at MSU, he has especially enjoyedencountering former students years (or even decades) after he had them inhis classes and sharing memories of that class with them. After retiring, Royplans to move to the Phoenix area and do a lot of desert photography.

Carl EganDr. Egan has served in the Department of Interior Design and ConstructionManagement, much of that time as Director, for more than 25 years. Hereceived his B.A. degree in 1967, his M.A. in 1969 and his Ed.D. in 1989 inthe University of Alabama system. In 1999 he was recognized as aFounding Member of the University of Russian Academy of Education(established in 1989 as Russia’s open university). He was awarded the“Honorary Professor of Moscow State Automobile and Road TechnicalUniversity” in 2000 at the Palace of Congresses in the Kremlin, Moscow,Russia in front of 5,000 guests. Carl received the prestigious Fulbright

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Scholar Award in Russia from February through July 2003. After retirementfrom MSU, Carl plans to pursue his fifth career change as owner/CEO ofEgan International Construction Consulting. In that capacity he plans oncontinuing his trips to the Russian Federation and The People’s Republic ofChina. He will also be working on a new “still” design for installation in thewoods on his property in Alabama.

Michael FatisDr. Fatis is retiring as a Professor from the Department of Psychology after26 years. His favorite experiences at MSU were attending professionalconferences with students and alumni who had received their doctorates.After retirement, Michael plans to spoil his grandchildren and to travel evenmore.

Nancy J. FenrickDr. Fenrick is retiring as a Professor from the Department of Psychologyafter 25 years. In her years at MSU she enjoyed working with students asthey pursued their professional goals. She has felt honored to continueworking with many of her students as they return to the local area followingtheir doctoral studies. Nancy (together with Michael) looks forward tospending time with her grandchildren. She is also excited about their travelplans including Antarctica next year.

Ralph JacobsDr. Jacobs is retiring as a Professor from the Department of Art after 28years. He obtained the following degrees throughout his career: A.A. –1959; B.S. – 1961; M.S. – 1962; Ph.D. – 1969. He also did post-doctoratework from 1974-1976. While at MSU he was the President of the ArtEducators of Minnesota from 1982-1984, and was involved in the St. PeterArts Center, Exhibit of Brass Constructions in 2003.

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Winifred MitchellDr. Mitchell is retiring as Professor and Chair of the Department ofAnthropology after 22 years. While at MSU she really enjoyed theintellectual exchange with colleagues, especially giving research lecturesand helping with the selection of other recipients. She also enjoyed workingwith the faculty research grant process, working with students, and helpingstudents discover the joy of discovery. After retirement, Winnie plans toattend the seminary and study to be an Episcopal priest.

Bernadette SchmidtMs. Schmidt retired last July from Institutional Research after 24 years.Prior to working in Institutional Research she worked in the Office of theRegistrar. While at MSU Berni had many memorable experiences, but hermost memorable was the retirement party held for her last July. Berni iscurrently residing in Tucson, Arizona (most of the time), and is a co-ownerin a “Curves” fitness center. She states that she had a pleasant winter andthat there wasn’t a day when she couldn’t get to work because of theweather!

Dorothy ScholtzDr. Scholtz is retiring as an Associate Professor in the Department ofEducational Studies: K-12 & Secondary Programs after 13 years. Dorothystated she had a difficult time articulating one experience she enjoyed atMSU – there were far too many to list. She feels she has been so fortunateto have many opportunities at MSU to explore a variety of areas andbelieves it has been a wonderful journey. After retirement, Dorothy plans toremain in the Twin Cities, teach some adjunct classes, maintain a smallprogram evaluation practice, and meddle in the rearing of her grandchildren.

Michael ScullinDr. Scullin is retiring as a Professor in the Department of Anthropology after35 years. While at MSU he enjoyed starting and maintaining the AmosOwen Garden of American Indian Horticulture. Mike also received theDuane Orr Teacher of the Year award in 2002. After retirement he plans todo lots of writing.

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Carolyn ShrewsburyDr. Shrewsbury is retiring as a Professor in the Department of PoliticalScience after 36 years. She chaired the State College Board (as it was then),the Commission on the Status of Women (which had some impact onbeginning the process for improving women’s salaries, getting more womenhired and promoted on the faculty and on the staff, changing the curriculumand supporting the development of a Women’s Studies program, andencouraging changes in the climate for women studies). Many havecontinued to carry on the work of moving toward equity for women. AfterCarolyn retires, she plans to move to Minneapolis and look for a new career.

Bruce SmithMr. Smith is retiring as an Associate Professor from the Department ofAccounting and Business Law after 34 years. Bruce could not articulate oneevent he particularly enjoyed at MSU, but particularly enjoyed all of thegreat students he has worked with. After retirement, he plans to expand hisCPA tax practice.

Gerald Alonzo SmithDr. Smith is retiring as a Professor from the Department of Economics after25 years. While at MSU he edited the Human Economics Newsletter from1985-1992. After retirement, Lon does not have any specific plans butintends to travel and referee soccer games.

H. Roger SmithDr. Smith retired as a Professor in the Urban and Regional Studies Instituteafter 38 years. While he was here he most enjoyed his collegial banter withcoworkers (and he was good at it). After retirement he plans to build aCircus Wagon, learn to play the piano, speak, read and think in German,French, Spanish and English. He wants to learn to be a teamster, enjoy hishome on the Mississippi River in Wabasha, write a popular 20th Centuryhistory of Mankato (not so much about the personalities but the places,events, and experiences the town provides that have made it home to somany, both young and old alike). He also plans to continue to enjoy going

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to Salfers Grove for a picnic in his Model A, going to the Root Beer Standon Park Lane and getting a double root beer float, watching the circus cometo town and parade down Front Street, seeing the Christmas lightdecorations down town, going to the Grand Theatre for a vaudeville showand two reeler, window shopping or buying fresh made donuts at Kresge’s,and other stuff like that.

Richard StrachanDr. Strachan is retiring as Professor from the Department of Anthropologyafter 33 years. While at MSU he saw the creation of an Anthropologymajor, the development of the Department of Anthropology, the creation of aGraduate Major in Anthropology, and the birth of the EMuseum. He statesthese were all memorable events. However, the students are what he willremember most. After retirement he plans to continue to work with theMSU EMuseum for two years and seasonally travel. After that, he is unsure.

Phyllis WisenDr. Wisen retired as the Interim Director of Human Resources. She servedin this capacity for three years and prior to that served as the AffirmativeAction Officer. Phyllis spent 40 total years at MSU. She obtained her B.S.in 1979, M.S. in 1984, and her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in1989. Her favorite experience at MSU was working with staff and facultywho provided instruction and services to students and other employees. Shebelieves the employees at MSU are good people and felt it was a pleasureworking with them. Phyllis retired last August and has most enjoyedwaking up each morning and then deciding what she wanted to do for thatday (rather than all the planning she did previously).