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Lake Campus Dean Set To Retire |
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Friday, 08 January 2010 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
CELINA — Wright State University Lake Campus students and employees
will see a change in June when more than 30 years of experience will
leave the campus.
Dean James E. Sayer will retire June 30, following 36 years of service to Wright State University.
“It’s a situation that has been forced upon me because of my many years of service,” Sayer told The Evening Leader. “By the time we hit the end of June, that will give me between Wright State and other teaching 40 years of service credit, which maxes me out.”
Before arriving at Wright State Lake Campus two years ago, Sayer served at the Wright State campus in Dayton for 18 years as Communications Department Chair. In addition to his time at Wright State, he also served four years at the University of Arizona.
“Certainly the one great thing about Wright State, because it is a relatively new institution, you are not trapped into tradition and the old way of doing things,” Sayer said. “There are opportunities to be innovative and to do things differently. I have enjoyed the fact that I have opportunities to do different types of things.”
Sayer said he was pleased with the opportunity that presented itself to come to the Lake Campus.
“The opportunity I was given to come up here to the Lake Campus has been the greatest opportunity and the most fun I have had since I have been with Wright State,” Sayer said.
During the 36 years of service, Sayer said he has had a few things at each campus that top his list.
“All the years that I served as faculty president down at Wright State in Dayton, the one thing that stands out the most was being able to sell to the administration a true early retirement system,” Sayer said. “It allowed us to re-energize the faculty and bring in some new, younger faculty and really encourage some of the older faculty who were not as energetic as they once were to move on.”
At the Lake Campus, Sayer said he was certainly proud of the final $9 million renovation project but also mentioned some other accomplishments.
“The revamping of the library into the learning center, the writing center that just started and the addition of new bachelor’s degree programs,” Sayer said. “We have done a lot of stuff I am really pleased with.”
Some of the programs that were added include criminal justice, computer science and mechanical engineering. According to a press release, Sayer saw a 61 percent enrollment increase throughout his tenure at the Lake Campus. Sayer also showed his appreciation to those he works with on a daily basis.
“The faculty and staff have been very good, really cooperative and hard working people,” Sayer said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of people for whom I work with.”
Looking to June and beyond, Sayer said he has yet to pinpoint one thing he is going to do during retirement.
“I am looking at a bunch of potential options,” Sayer said. “Right now I am really focused on trying to do a good, solid job the last six months that I am here.”
He also has high hopes for the continued progress at the Lake Campus upon the selection of a new dean. A committee has been formed and will start the national search soon.
“Whoever he or she turns out to be, that person will come to a campus that is completely renovated, that has an expanding curriculum and a very-hard working faculty and staff,” Sayer said in a news release. “Given how wonderful our Lake Campus is and how equally wonderful this area is, I am certain that a really good replacement will be found.”
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 February 2010 )
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