Insight Online
April 27, 2007
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Dr. Ray Baird, second from left, is joined by Dr. James AuBuchon, Larry Nokes, Teresa Massa and Dr. Lee Christensen at the faculty-staff retirement dinner last week.Retired administrator made a big impression
A subtle theme emerged at this year’s faculty-staff retirement dinner. One by one, several of those being honored in turn paid homage to the man who hired them, mentored them and called them ‘colleague.’ Dr. Ray Baird was there for their special day last week, just as he was on the day each of them arrived on campus.
Ray Baird has seen a lot of retirements since he came to PSU 60 years ago. His own was in 1987. In recent years, the retirees being honored are often persons that Baird hired and even those he didn’t hire, often count him as a mentor and friend.
“It just makes me satisfied,” Baird said as he thought about the successful careers of those he hired, “that I made the right decisions when I hired them. They all had the right experience and the right qualifications.”
Lee Christensen, associate vice president for academic programs, recalls Baird’s high expectations.
“He had high standards. Accuracy was very important,” Christensen said, “but he hired good people.”
EOAA Director Teresa Massa agreed that Baird’s standards were high and he expected a lot of employees, but she said he never had to bully his people to get them to work hard.
“He never raised his voice,” Massa said.
Baird was an effective administrator and leader, Christensen said, because his employees respected him.
“You didn’t want to disappoint him,” Christensen said. “We looked up to the man and we wanted to meet his expectations.”
Larry Nokes, Physical Plant director, said one reason Baird earned such respect was that he clearly cared about his employees.
“He showed he cared about you and your family,” Nokes said. “He would often ask about my family and it was clear that his concern was genuine. I have treasured a couple of cross stitch pieces that Ann (Baird’s late wife) gave me.”
Massa recalled a snowy winter day when she experienced that caring attitude first-hand.
“I was one of the first employees to live out of town,” said Massa, who lives in Joplin. “One time we had a very bad snowstorm and the drive from Joplin to Pittsburg was very difficult. When I finally got to my office, Dr. Baird was there waiting for me with a hot cup of coffee. That’s how concerned he was about me.”
Baird came to Pittsburg State to be part of a fledgling counseling and psychology program. For many years he served as the university’s registrar and for the last 15 years as executive vice president. The executive team in those years included only President George Budd, Baird and Vice President Alvin Proctor.
Although he has been retired for two decades, Baird’s influence can still be felt on campus.
“Ray Baird made a big impression on me early in my career,” Nokes said. “I have tried to model the same compassion and caring attitude that he showed to us.”
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NCAA applauds PSU-community bond
Pittsburg State University President Tom Bryant often says that “What’s good for Pittsburg State is good for our community and what’s good for our community is good for Pittsburg State.” That university-community bond and how to promote it in other university towns is the subject of a new NCAA Web site.
The Web site http://www.diicommunity.org/ includes a video about the game day atmosphere in Pittsburg on days that the Gorilla football team plays at home. The video was shot last fall and documents the day-long activities that begin with breakfast at Bob’s Grill, and tailgating in Gorilla Village and ends with PSU football players tossing footballs on the field after the game.
The video is directed by Dr. Rich Luker, a nationally recognized sports and leisure researcher who offers insights on the film about ways other Division II universities can start community engagement programs of their own.
In the video, Luker, surrounded by area children, PSU football players, students and families, said the environment has a lasting impact.
“It’s not just a one-time experience. When it comes times for them to think about school, when they think about community, this is what they remember,” Luker said.
For more information, call Tommy Riggs, Ext. 4148.
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Samuels to direct Honors College
Julie Samuels, Curriculum and Instruction, has been selected as the new director of the Honors College. Samuels, who has been a member of the faculty since 1999, will be
gin her duties on June 18. She follows Becky Brannock, who had directed the Honors College since 2002.Samuels holds a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Ottawa University, a master of science degree in curriculum and instruction from PSU and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University.
Samuels taught elementary school in Osawatomie, Kan., and Mnsfield, Mo., and middle school in Westphalia, Kan., before joining the faculty at PSU. She currently teaches undergraduate reading courses as well as classroom management.
Her awards and honors include Kansas Outstanding Reading Educator, Osawatomie District Teacher of the Year and runner up for the Third Congressional District Kansas Teacher of the Year.
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Faculty News
Meetings/Conferences
Tim Flood and Cynthia Woodburn, Math - accompanied 12 students to the national convention of the Mathematics Honor Society, Kappa Mu Epsilon, April 12-14 in Springfield, Mo. Three PSU students (Christine Baker, Luke Henke, and Casey Kuhn) had papers accepted for presentation at the national convention. Also, at the convention, Woodburn was elected national treasurer of Kappa Mu Epsilon.
Ed Wirthwein and Edie McCracken, Student Center - presented at the National Association for Campus Activities national conference in Nashville, Tenn. They gave a presentation to students and staff on “We’re All In This Together: Lessons Learned from High School Musical.”
Honors/Awards
Bob Kehle, Mathematics – accepted the KNEA the Epperson-Peters Award on behalf of PSU/KNEA at the KNEA Representative Assembly on April 14. Also recognized were PSU/KNEA leaders Bob Backes, Physics; Khamis Siam, Chemistry; Dick Lipka, SSLS; and Harry Humphries, Social Sciences. The award recognized the PSU/KNEA for its efforts in the ongoing dispute with the Kansas Board of Regents over intellectual property rights. The Epperson-Peters Award honors persons whose collective or individual efforts best exemplify the ideals of teacher efficacy and have significant statewide impact on the education community in the areas of professional negotiations, teacher rights and defense of academic freedom. The award was named after Liberal teachers Oleta Peters and Lila Epperson who were fired for securing bargaining rights for the local association.
Ed Wirthwein, Student Center - was awarded the Seglie Fraternity Volunteer of the Year Award during Greek Week.
---Pitt State---
posted by Ron Womble @ 4:39 PM
