Chief academic officer announces pending retirement

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
02/03/06

For the past four years, Provost Paul Reichardt has lived the joys of retirement vicariously through his wife, Terry.

He’ll soon try it out for himself.

Reichardt, UAF’s chief academic officer since 1998, announced today that he plans to retire once his successor is in place, likely in mid-2007 and after the close of next academic year.

"I think it’s a good time for me and it’s probably a good time for the university and for the chancellor,"? said Reichardt. "When I became provost in ’98, we were in what we viewed as pretty desperate shape and it was a matter of survival. I think that has changed around completely in the last nine years."?

Reichardt credits part of that turnaround to UA President Mark Hamilton’s leadership and the contributions of the most recent chancellors. All have played a part in what Reichardt characterizes as a positive mindset on campus and strong public support and understanding of the role of the university in the state. UAF Chancellor Steve Jones is quick to recognize Reichardt for his leadership.

"He stepped up to take an administrative position when times were tough,"? said Jones. "That’s leading by example. He’s well respected and has this terrific ability to put people at ease and work toward positive solutions. I’ve learned a great deal from Paul, and I’m grateful that he agreed to help me climb the learning curve for what will be three full years."?

Reichardt has previously served as dean of UAF’s College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics and the College of Natural Sciences and as interim director of the UA Museum.

He’s seen UAF grow from a small teaching institution with about 2,500 students and three high-powered institutes to a vibrant Land, Sea and Space Grant university with nearly 10,000 students and hundreds of scientists working within multiple research institutes, including the International Arctic Research Center.

Reichardt recalls that the trans-Alaska oil pipeline was a major turning point in the university’s history. The pipeline brought an influx of students and a revenue stream to support state funding. The hiring of good faculty tops Reichardt’s list of achievements during his tenure.

"There are lots of things that go into making a good university. There are lots of things that you can do well and make it a better university, but there is no getting around the fact that you can’t have a good university without a good faculty,"? said Reichardt. "I’d say the university is in really good hands."?

He said future challenges include securing funding for upgrading aging facilities and continuing to offer a rich foundation in the arts and sciences while preparing students for their professional careers.

Reichardt received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1969.

That’s where he met and married his wife, Terry. They soon discovered they both had an affinity for Alaska. On a lark, he sent a letter to the UAF chemistry department to inquire about a position, but didn’t hear anything back--at least not right away.

He accepted a postdoctoral research position at Yale University and was later hired as an assistant professor at Ohio State University. About a year into the position there, he received a letter from UAF. A faculty position had opened up at the Fairbanks campus and the hiring committee wanted to interview him. He accepted the job, packed for Alaska and the Reichardts arrived in August of 1972.

The Reichardts had their first child the following November, followed by two more. Once the children got older, Terry returned to work as the founding director of Love, Inc. a local charitable organization. She worked there for 16 years before retiring.

Paul Reichardt doesn’t have any particular plans for his retirement, but he and Terry are interested in volunteer work here or possibly in a third world country.

Reichardt has not set a specific retirement date and has said he’s willing to assist the new chief academic officer during the transition. He is announcing his departure now to allow for a search committee to begin the task of finding a new provost in the 2006-2007 recruiting cycle.

CONTACT: Paul Reichardt at (907) 474-7096 or ffpbr@uaf.edu for more information.