4 Wednesday, August 25,1999
Dr. Bruhn Retires After 37 Years in Academia
Continued from Page 1
academia in general is a lack of
continuity from one administration
to the next. He added, “We tend to
start and stop with new administra
tions. I think it’s only realistic to
think that someone could come in
and have different priorities and
take it in a whole different direc
tion than I did.”
Bruhn knows a thing or two about
college administration. He started
in academic administration in 1962
and has spent 37 years moving to
ward the position of Provost and
Dean for Capital College.
Former posts include Vice Presi
dent for Academic Affairs and Re
search at University of Texas, El
Paso and Dean of the School of
Allied Health Sciences at Univer
sity of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston.
I asked Bruhn to reflect on his
tenure with a nudge from a Septem
ber 1995 introduction letter pub
lished in The Capital Times shortly
after his arrival. In the letter, Bruhn
lists his objectives. It’s an impres
siveMstof objectives and Dr. Bruhn
was pleased to reflect on the
progress made during his watch.
His smile widened as he realized
how much of what he proposed in
1995 had moved forward.
Bruhn’s objective of improving
participation and open communica
tion on campus was promoted
through quarterly staff forums,
monthly “no-agenda” coffees and
Interim
Provost
Leathers
Continued from Page 1
The interim position continues for
one year while the search is under
way for our next Provost and Dean.
If the search results in the selection
of a replacement sooner, Leathers
will step down.
In the meantime, Leathers is tak
ing his role seriously. He is mov
ing into University housing and has
rolled up his sleeves to get to work.
a good idea contest that resulted in
improvements such as the MAC
and stamp machines.
The development of academic
partnerships advanced through
building dual admission agree
ments with community colleges and
joint degree programs with Hershey
Medical School and Dickinson
School of Law.
Bruhn's marketing goals moved
forward with the hiring of Rebecca
Gardner, full-time Director of Mar
keting, who, among other things,
has created a family of brochures
for each academic program.
In the arena of improved commu
nity outreach, Bruhn mentioned his
work with Middletown Mayor Bar
bara Layne to create the Commu
nity Arts and Crafts Fall Festival,
which raises funds to support
Middletown’s youth programs.
In addition, Bruhn told me that
plans are underway for a $l.B mil
lion swimming and fitness center on
campus that will be open to the
community.
Bruhn is also proud of his work
with Harrisburg Mayor Stephen
Reed on several initiatives includ
ing Harrisburg’s sister-city relation
ship with Pachuca, Hidalgo in
Mexico. One outcome is an ex
change program for education ma
jors between Capital College and
the University of Hidalgo.
Closer to home, Bruhn high
lighted the efforts of Director of
Development, Lois Jordan, and the
development office. Penn State
Library to Open in January
It’s a busy period expansion on
campus. The $l7 million library
project is rapidly coming to its
completion. Exterior construction
is finished and interior construction
is scheduled to be done by Octo
ber, according to Hevner.
Then the contractors will then
check all the equipment, including
computer ports, light switches and
doors, to make sure everything is
ready.
The new library, which has yet to
be named, will open in January. Itst
opening will mean that Heindel Li
brary on the first floor of the
Olmsted Building will close. But
the space will be used for student
services, said Director of Student
Affairs Donald Holtzman.
He said that a new food service
area will open is most of Heindel
_ Libraiy’sjspace ;
University recently embarked on a
capital campaign and Capital
College’s assignment consisted of
raising $lO million over seven
years.
Our development office raised 75
percent of the assignment in two
years. In addition, Capital College
now enjoys an endowed chair, the
Quentin Berg Chair in Engineering.
Judging by his pleasure in telling
the story, this accomplishment will
bring a smile to Bruhn’s face for
some time.
The list went on. Bruhn is proud
of our new honors program, the
progress on the library, the plans for
new student housing and the plans
for combining dining facilities in
the space vacated by the current li
brary. He also shared his enthusi
asm with Gayle Yaverbaum and Su
san Richman’s laptop computer
project and by the computer center
proposed for the current Lion’s Den
area.
So why only a B+ or A-? Accord
ing to Bruhn, there are other things
he hoped to accomplish. Looming
large on his list is the lack of a $4
million naming donor for the soon
to-be-completed library.
Coming in second is the lack of
forward momentum on course of
ferings in downtown Harrisburg
and other outreach initiatives.
Overall, Bruhn is pleased. He is
also quite aware of the campus
wide team effort responsible for
making it happen.
By Matthew McKeown
Capital Times Editor
The rest of it would most likely
be used as a “Town Square” where
the Student Government Associa
tion, The Capital Times, radio sta
tion WPSH, and other student ac
tivities would be located, accord
ing to Holtzman.
However, the town square con
cept is still in the preliminary stages
and nothing will be acted upon un
til the new library opens.
fl
One environment. One simple -way to un'jor it, HI
NEWS
Outgoing Provost and Dean Dr. John G. Bruhn has some final comments: "This college is
a real gem waiting to blossom in the future with all of the developments going on here and
/ think the biggest thing is to keep spreading the word. I think the quality of programs here
are superb and I think that students, graduates, alumni need to just keep promoting this
college and it will continue to grow and prosper. I’ve had a good time and I leave with good
feelings and ready to now enjoy other things other than administration."
ATTENTION:
Have you recently gotten engaged, married, promoted, or published?
The Capital Times will feature a new column of society news for the
1999-2000 school year.
Please e-mail Kristy Pipher at kap2o2@psu.edu with any news of en
gagements, weddings, promotions, announcements, announcements,
published works, special birthdays, anniversaries, etc. You can also
drop any society news in The Capital Times mailbox outside the Stu
dent Activities Office.
Olmsted Plaza make your own hours
_ . _. Sell Kodak Spring Break Trips
Barbershop
HIGHEST COMMISSION-
Jamesway Plaza No. 10 nocosttoyou
944-9364 I Travel FREE including food, drink &
non : stop parties!!!
Nexxus Products WORLD CLASS VACATIONS
1999 STUDENT TRAVEL
Shop Hours PLANNERS “TOP
PRODUCER”
&
Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 to 7:00 MTV’S CHOICE
Fri 8.00 to 6.00 (Spring Break Cancun Party
Sat 8:00 to 2:00 Program)
Sunday Closed 1-800-222-4432
The Capital Times