L eaving an in d eli bl e mark
A look back at Provost and Dean
John Lilley's vision for a good toda y
and even better tomorrow...
LILLEY'S LEGACY
Lilley's mind.
During the talk with Alstadt, Lilley learned
more about the focus of a land-grant college
and its role in providing a more stable
economy in the region. Lilley also learned
about Behrend's purpose as a research
oriented college. When this vision was
established, the only roadblock was cost.
"From then on, it's just been a matter of trying
to put the money together," said Lilley.
Upon Lilley's arrival, he had very little
experience in raising money. "I never raised
any money in my life,'' said Lilley. "I just
looked around and said, 'I don't have any
choice.''' Lilley raised some money; $65
million to be exact.
"Most of our money came from very
generous alumns, but we've had such
generosity from people in this community
who are not Behrend alumns, who believed
in our mission," said Lilley.
"Behrend is truly implementing the
University's research and land-grant mission,"
said Lilley. "We've added some wonderful
buildings that I'm very proud of. We've
grown faster than the University could keep
up with us."
The most recent success is one of Lilley's
proudest. "The most exciting professional
thing recently was the day that the Governor
announced the $3O million for the REDC
said Lilley. "Professionally. it was
one of those days that's abo
good as it gets."
Lilley realized the important
the REDC to the future of Belli
which made him "tenacious,'
his own words, in getting th
funding for that building
"There's nothine I had to work
harder for to get than that $3O
million. And I would have
never, ever taken this job
lUniv.of Nevada, Reno if that hadn't been
secured," assured Lilley.
could not have left without absolutely
knowing that Behrend's future, and the future
that I could have given to it, would have been
secured," added Lilley.
Even with the material growth that Behrend
has secured over the past 21 years, Lille) , is
more proud of the people that surround him.
"I would be absolutely foolish to suggest that
there aren't many other people who did a great
job preparing," said Lilley.
"I am most proud of the quality of the
faculty, and staff and students. If you were to
look at the scholarly records back then and
the scholarly records now, they are pretty
different." This difference comes from the
cleaning up the college has done in changing
a system with three divisions of study, to four
schools. Lilley feels this change has made
things run much more smoothly.
f p °7l f l;
Dr. John M. Lilley from Kansas
State University was selected The economics and general business majors
from 140 candidates as the new were added, and political science was
Provost and Dean of Penn revised. The Economic Research Institute
State Behrend. of Erie was established.
Dean Lilley hired Dr. Jack Burke as the associate
dean of the college (Burke is now senior associate
provost and senior associate dean and will serve as
interim dean until Dean Lilley's
replacement has been chosen).
The 17-year old ROTC program was
discontinued. The Penn State
Educational Partnership Program
(PEPP) began. Mrs. Kay Logan
presented the former Mack estate (now
Logan House) as a gift to the college.
Behrend's Speaker Series was deemed the most
Distinguished Lecture Program in the nation. The
Division of Science and the School of Engineering and
Engineering Technology were created. Dr. Knacke,
director of the School of Science, came to Behrend.
Ground for the Engineering Complex was broken.
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Lilley also helped Behrend earn more of an
identity during his time at the college. One
of his first moves when he arrived at Behrend
involved changing the campus mascot from
Cubs to Lions. "I just said, 'look, this is silly.
We're not the Cubs. We're not some
diminutive. We should he the Lions.'"
Research clone at the time justified Lilley's
decision to chane.e the name. "The lion that
is the basis for our mascot was a real mountain
lion that 'named from Maryland all the way
to Michigan. There was a lion that had been
at link ersity Park that wound up in the
Pittsburgh area for some reason, and stayed
there for quite some time,"
Iley. "It hit me like
)f bricks. I thought,
if that lion roamed
- um Maryland to
Michigan and
roamed Mount
Behrend
athletic teams and the entire Behrend
community began to call Behrend's mascot
the lion. "There was no call of action. I just
said we're the Behrend Lions and we went
after it," said Lilley.
Professionally, Lilley's job at Behrend has
been full of successes. Lilley's personal life
wasn't always that way. He was divorced after
he joined the Behrend community, leaving a
sadness within him. "During that sad time, I
have a whole long list of heroes who were
extraordinarily nice to me when they could
see my sadness over a marriage, that after 25
years had dissolved."
"But then there's new life and opportunities
and new love and new things that you just
couldn't have imagined." His new love came
when Ted Junker, Penn State's former Board
of Trustees Chair and Lilley's friend,
introduced him to his current wife, Gerrie.
The two have been married for 13 years and
Dean Lilley announced a $9 million fundraising
drive for capital projects and scholarship
endowments. GE donated $500,000 to fund the
Computer Center.
he plastics program was accredited by ABET, making it
only one of two accredited programs in the country.
Housing renovated Dobbins Hall and the Child Care
Center was opened. Behrend's annual faculty research
grants topped $1 million for the first time.
Plans to construct new housing for 300 students
were announced. Ground was broken for the
Hammermill and Zurn Buildings. Plans for a new
fitness center, at a cost of $5.5 million and scheduled
to open in 1987, were announced.
The college dedicated the Library
and Academic Building, finally
giving the library a permanent
home. The women's basketball
team won its first NCAA
tournament game.
Nittany. you know
it roamed the
Behrend woods."
From that point
The Engineering Complex was
completed. Women's soccer became
a varsity sport. The international
studies minor was
approved.
Behrend's first study abroad
program was led by Dr. Stephen DeHart. The
Engineering Complex was dedicated with the help of
donors Jim Benson, Richard Fasenmyer, the
Lorangers, Hoop Roche,
Joe Prischak, and Bill Witkowski.
Lilley would challenge anyone who says you
have to be young to fall in love. "It's even
better when you're older," said Lilley.
Lilley knows a lot about getting better.
E3ehrend's improvement exemplifies that. But
Lilley stresses the importance of being future
oriented and to not be satisfied with what the
present holds.
"I am cheerfully dissatisfied. Nothing is
ever good enough, including me and
everybody around us. We can all be better,
and that's our business. To make sure that all
of us get better."
"Behrend has an extraordinarily bright
future," said Lilley. In the making, are
projects such as the chapel and carillon,
something that Lilley regrets not being able
to see happen. Lilley is also very excited for
the REDC and the possibilities of future
varsity athletics taking place on Behrend's
land near Kanty Prep on East 38"' Street.
Lilley's new job as president of the
University of Nevada, Reno offers some of
the same challenges that Behrend has offered
throughout his stay. Both schools are land
grant colleges, which has proven to be an area
of strength for Lilley. Lilley is aware of the
challenges and is excited to take on the
broader mission that the University of
Nevada, Reno presents.
"After 21 years, I leave with a heavy heart,"
said Lilley. "It's just a classic bittersweet
moment. -
"Since last Thursday night, I've taken a
whole new look at it [Behrend campus]. I'm
looking at it this week with new eyes, with a
new sensitivity, because it's going to disappear
from my daily life, but it won't disappear from
my mind."
"I'm not, in any way, checking out on my
love and affection for the Behrend Liens. I
will always watch this place very carefully
with a great sense of pride."
"I think I'm one of the luckiest people in
the world, to have been given this
opportunity." Penn State Behrend is lucky
for having been his home.
Discussion on adding a plastics major began and
a committee was formed to raise funds for
equipment. The Hammermill and Zurn
Buildings were dedicated. The MBA program
was launched and Dr. John Magenau was hired.
The School of Business and Division of Humani
ties and Social Sciences were created. Behrend was
awarded $9.6 million from the state for the Library
and Academic Building. Dean Lilley chaired the
University's Council of Academic Deans.
Logan House renovations were
completed and the building was dedicated. Bruno's
was also renovated. Almy Hall opened, and the
state approved $lO million for the fitness center
(up from $7.6 million in 1989).
Behrend celebrated its 50th
anniversary. The School of
Business received a donation of $2O
million, Behrend's largest donation ever
and third largest in Penn State history.
The site of the ARC was dedicated and
ground was broken for Knowledge Park.
Members of Behrend's
administration were asked what they will miss most
about Dean Lilley. Here is what they had to say:
"John has been our 'dean of deans,' one of Penn State's most experienced and talented
leaders. The University of Nevada, Reno has landed one of the top university adminis
trators in the nation. We will miss John greatly at Penn State, His energy, style, talent,
and accomplishments will be remembered with great fondness:
-Dr. Graham Spanier,
Penn State President
1 11141
"First impressions can stay with a person a long time. I vividly
remember the interviews with ayounger John Lilley back in 1980 I
knew he would he our new Dean. He always said, 'l'll stay at Behrend ,
as long as I'm still having fun doing this job.' Well, he was still having :XI,
fun! But someone offered him a more challenging playgiound
-Robert Schenker,
Senior Registrar
'I will miss John's incredible ability to press, urge and encourage students, faculty and staff to
stretch their abilities and realize today's realities were yesterday's dreams, so keep dreaming
and strive to make your dreams tomorrow's realities. -
-Ed Mulfinger.
Associate Director of Housing and Food Services at University Park
"John is truly a visionary in his thinking, and that is a trait that is
very rare. He literally looks decades into the future in terms of his
vision for what Behrend can become."
Dr. Jack Burke,
Senior Associate Provost and Senior Associate Dean
"His directness. John seldom minces words. You know where he stands and what's on his
mind. The biggest change on clnpus? There will be more cookies available at meetings.
John has a tremendous sweet tooth and his ability to chow on cookies is legendary."
-Ken Miller,
Director of Student Affairs
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Y'~ S e f F. 7 / ,r
' r i ' s
The plastics engineering technology program
was initiated. Dr. Chris Reber became Dean of
Student Affairs. The PSB Alumni Society was
established. Plans for a Bookstore addition to the
Reed Union Building were drawn.
"I suppose what I'll miss most is the example he has
set for all of us to work very hard for a cause that has
meaning and importance in our lives, to have vision,
and to be caring and civil. flels an extraordinary
leader and mentor, and I shall miss him greatly."
-Dr. Chris Reber,
Associate Provost for Advancement
"Dean Lilley provided dynamic, absolutely dedicated leadership to
the campus. He deserves much credit for its growth and develop
ment since 1980. His successors will be challenged to maintain the
momentum of the last two decades. -
-Dr. Roger Knacke,
Director of the School of Science
The college celebrated 40 years. The
new plastics lab opened its doors.
Behrend adopted the Diehl School.
Dr. Bob Light was named associate
provost and associate dean.
The Smith family announced that it would fund a chapel and
carillon. ROTC returned. Ohio Hall opened its doors;and
Governor Ridge visited to dedicate Knowledge Park. Dr. Clare
Porac was named director of the School of H&SS. Behrend held its
first All-Class Reunion.
Men's basketball made it to the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament for
Division 111. GE Transportation Systems donated the six-ton
locomotive cab. Dr. Robert Simoneau was appointed director of the
SEET. Planning continued for the linkage of Behrt;nd's campus with
the Eastside Access Highway. Behrend is ranked as one of the
country's "hot" and "trendy" colleges by Kaplan/Newsweek.
Governor Ridge returned to release $3O million in state money for the
funding of the Research and Economic Development Center, adjacent
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Erie Hall was renovated. The
Stair Tower was built, and ground
was broken for the three residence
suites. Music at Noon: The Logan
Wintergarden Series began.
WPSE radio went on air. A new master plan
was created, calling for the renovation of the
Science Building, more housing, and added
parking. The fitness center's price tag increased
to $7.5 million