July 7, 2006

Dear Friends:

With summer in full swing, I hope this letter finds you enjoying some of Idaho’s incredible recreational opportunities. Here on campus, it’s business as usual. As I’ve stated in this space before, while we typically think of summer as a time when our pace slows a bit, such is not the case at Boise State University. With summer classes and workshops; academic, athletic and musical youth camps; fine arts performances and exhibits; and conferences and meetings in our Student Union and other facilities, the Boise State campus continues to be a bustling place during the summer months.

The big news since my last correspondence is that five key administrative positions have been filled at Boise State. I was extremely pleased with the quality of the candidates who applied for these positions and am genuinely excited about the selections we have made. Allow me to briefly introduce the newest members of the Boise State leadership team.

• Michael Laliberte is our new vice president for student affairs. Michael has more than 10 years of progressively responsible experiences in a wide array of student affairs positions. He joins us from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he was associate vice chancellor for student affairs since January 2003. He also served as associate dean of students from 1999-2003 and coordinator for student judicial affairs in 1999. I am confident that our campus community will be impressed by Michael’s strong advocacy of students. His track record suggests that he will join with us in continuing to build a strong sense of community among our students. His leadership will help us improve student success, especially in retention and graduation rates. I am also anxious to rely on Michael’s leadership in increasing residential and learning opportunities on campus to create the very best experience for our students.

• Mark Wheeler, who has been serving in the dual role interim vice president for student affairs and dean of enrollment services since last May, has been promoted to associate vice president for student affairs/dean of enrollment services.  Mark joined the university in 1990 as an admission counselor and since then has served in various capacities in the student affairs division. His past positions include assistant dean of admissions from 1995-97 and interim registrar from 1997-98.

• Jim Munger, who has served as chair of the Department of Biology since 1998, has been named associate vice president for academic planning. A member of the biology faculty since 1988, Jim has provided leadership in the redesign of the undergraduate biology curriculum, development of a bachelor of arts in environmental studies and a master of arts in biology, and laying the groundwork for Ph.D. programs in biomolecular sciences and in biology. His primary responsibility in the Provost’s Office will be working with departments and colleges in academic programming, program assessment, program and institutional accreditation, strategic planning implementation, budget development, and planning of academic space and facilities. In addition  Stephanie Witt, who served as associate vice president for academic affairs, will assume the directorship of the Center for Public Policy in the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. She replaces former director Jim Weatherby, who is retiring from the university after 17 years of service.

• James Maguire, director of capital program implementation for the University of California, Office of the President in Oakland, has been named associate vice president for campus planning and facilities. In his capacity with the University of California and in his previous position of associate director of state capital program development, James managed and coordinated the planning and development of all state-funded capital projects across the 10 campuses of the university system. He was also responsible for interactions with numerous state agencies related to securing and implementing approximately $1.2 billion in special lease revenue bond financing. His areas of responsibility will include Facilities Operations and Maintenance; Public Safety, Risk Management and Transportation; Facilities Planning and Design; Architectural and Engineering Services; and Space Planning. He will also chair the Facilities Planning Council.

• Jeff Hale, a veteran of more than 25 years in student affairs at the university level, has been named executive director of student housing. For the last 10 years Jeff served as director of residential education and auxiliary services at Oxford College of Emory University in Oxford, Ga., where he was responsible for directing the residence life program and overseeing auxiliary service contracts for food services, vending and the bookstore. Over the course of his career, Jeff has also worked with residential life and judicial programs at West Virginia University and the University of Oklahoma.

• Dick Rapp, associate vice president of student affairs and director of the Boise State Career Center, has been named interim director of the BSU Alumni Association. Dick, who is in his 37th year with Boise State, will serve as interim director of the Alumni Association while the university conducts a national search for a permanent replacement for former director Lee Denker, who was named president of the alumni association at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

• In addition, we will have in the neighborhood of 30 new faculty members joining the university this fall. This infusion of new and talented teachers, researchers and administrators is the latest indication that Boise State continues to make significant progress in its plan to become a metropolitan research university of distinction.

• Lastly, I’d like to share with you the news of a major acquisition by Boise State — although chances are you have already heard and read about it in the local media. Last month the university purchased University Inn, a hotel located at the northeast corner of Capitol Boulevard and University Drive. This important acquisition will allow Boise State to continue its long-range Campus Master Plan to make the intersection of University Drive and Capitol Boulevard a scenic gateway onto our campus, highlighted by a state-of-the-art College of Business and Economics building. As part of the $3.2 million purchase, University Inn will remain in business through Oct. 31. During the interim period, seller Phil Murelaga will continue to operate the hotel through a lease with Boise State. Funds are currently being raised for the five-story Business and Economics building that will span more than 100,000 square feet.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable summer. As always, thanks for all you do for Boise State University.

Best Regards,

Bob Kustra
President