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Retiring and Emeriti Employees

Retiring and Emeriti Honorees

Testimonials

Photo of Lori Farris

Lori Farris, Purchasing

What will you miss most?

“First and foremost I will miss my amazing Purchasing team and all of UFS. I will also miss my colleagues campus wide and those relationships that were built over the years.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“A fun memory was walking into Albertsons library with my daughter, who was soon to start her first year at BSU, and part of the marching band came into the library and played and everyone cheered.”

What are you most excited about?

“With more time in retirement I am excited to hike more here in beautiful Idaho, travel more internationally and spend time with my children and grandchild!”

Photo of Jim Conrad

Jim Conrad, Department of Computer Science

What will you miss most?

“I already miss being in front of a classroom, reading my students faces, and helping them succeed. Teaching is a most rewarding experience.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“Showing up in the wrong room on the first day of class, lecturing 15 minutes to stunned faces, discovering what class this really was, and improvising a lecture for the instructor who didn’t show! Some days… you just gotta play the cards you picked up.”

What are you most excited about?

“Spending more time outdoors.”

Photo of Bonnie Raper

Bonnie Raper, Office of Continuous Improvement

What will you miss most?

“The people–I miss my colleagues both in my department and also those across campus. I worked with such incredible people, and I miss that extreme sense of accomplishment that comes from a job well done.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“Probably my favorite memories are of all the April Fools jokes a co-worker and I played on our colleagues in the Little Red House.”

What are you most excited about?

“Spending time with my husband, kids, and grandkids, especially our eight year old grandson who loves being with Papa and Grandma at our cabin in Garden Valley.”

Photo of Claude Sheffield

Claude Sheffield, Campus Facilities

What will you miss most?

“I will miss working on campus and all the camaraderie that comes with it.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“I have lots of good memories of my time on campus and made some good friends.”

What are you most excited about?

“I have projects at home to do, as well as hobbies. I plan on volunteering more.”

Photo of Larry Harmon

Larry Harmon, Internal Audit and Advisory Services

What will you miss most?

“Our terrific internal audit team!”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“Every fall when the students returned.”

What are you most excited about?

“Now that we have had to delay our visits to San Francisco and our planned international travel, we are concentrating on gardening, baking and reading. My only responsibility, now that I have retired, is to make sure my wife and I never miss a cocktail hour.”

Photo of Gay Barzee

Gay Barzee, Budget and Planning

What will you miss most?

“I will miss the people and acquaintances. Especially my co-workers and the people I interacted with on a daily basis. There are a lot of really fun folks at Boise State and they have all become my home away from home, my true blue family.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“I had a lot of fun participating in Shared Leadership, Boise State Association of Office Professionals Bosses’ Breakfasts and Holiday Auctions, and serving on the Classified Employees Senate.”

What are you most excited about?

“More of a lot of things. More dancing, singing, yoga, playing, dressing up, sight-seeing, and visiting my kids and grandkids. Taking more time for myself and finishing all the writing projects I started years ago.”

Photo of Terri Spinazza

Terri Spinazza, Purchasing

What will you miss most?

“The people are the greatest.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“When the chimes were made operational again on campus and University Financial Services Flamingo Bash each summer.”

What are you most excited about?

“Eventually, travel to visit our kids and on the wish list of destinations we’d like to see.”

Photo of Rex Oxford

Rex Oxford, College of Engineering

What will you miss most?

“All those great emails….”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“Really no single memory. I think the most enjoyable thing has been witnessing and participating in the growth and success of BSU over the past two decades.”

What are you most excited about?

“More time on the water.”

Photo of Paul Lindquist

Paul Lindquist, Material Science and Engineering

What will you miss most?

“I miss working with the undergraduates and graduate students in the lab, going to elementary, middle and high schools to do STEM outreach, and doing research in the laboratory.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“I remember the time I took Spanish 101. I was challenged from the start, I wanted to learn the language because I discovered on a trip to Peru that it might be important to know some Spanish in case you get lost. I worked at learning something and at the end of the semester the instructor slid an envelope across the table which contained a letter from the language department. It said, “I was nominated as one of the students of the year in that class and I had a bright future. They suggested I consider stopping by the office to talk about a new career.”

What are you most excited about?

“Free time? There are still only 24 hours per day. It is nice to know you can never be late for work again. Hopefully, I’ll be given the chance to live my life to the fullest, meet new people, help others when possible, make new adventures, create new things, continue living the way I have lived. I plan on taking up the fixed time that is left and maximizing it to the best way I can.”

Photo of Kathleen Budge

Kathleen Budge, Curriculum, Instruction and Foundational Studies Department

What will you miss most?

“I will miss the energy! When I applied for my position in 2006, I had offers at other universities but Boise State clearly stood out. It was a place of creative energy, growth and optimism then and it still is today, even in these uncertain times.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“I have many wonderful memories of my years at Boise State, but the one that will always stand out for me is taking part in the first of many high-ropes courses with my students. As a new assistant professor, I had the opportunity to lead the development of a new principal preparation program in the College of Education.”

What are you most excited about?

“Retirement will provide the flexibility to spend at least part of the year in Montana and part in Florida, where I am intending to take longer walks, be still, notice life more, and spend time with my grandkids.”

Photo of Greg Kator

Greg Kator, Chemistry Department

What will you miss most?

“I will miss working with some really great people at BSU.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“My best memories are the Wizard Hat ceremonies for the graduating Chemistry seniors every year. What a great activity!”

What are you most excited about?

“Free time means lots of fly fishing in the summer and time in the hills hunting in the fall.”

Photo of Brenda Haight

Brenda Haight, Boise State Foundation

What will you miss most?

“I will miss the campus “seasons” — the buzz in the air as students move into dorms and the semester begins, the sound of the marching band practicing in the stadium, the excitement of commencement, and then the big sigh of relief as the campus eases into summer break.”

What are you most excited about?

“But I do love having the gift of time for hobbies, exercise and (hopefully!) travel. This time of year it’s especially nice to work in my flower gardens and yard without racing against the clock to get things done on evenings and weekends.”

Photo of Kelly Cross

Kelly Cross, Curriculum, Instruction and Foundational Studies Department

What will you miss most?

“I will miss the uplifting, inspiring and vibrant atmosphere found throughout campus, and the amazing people I’ve been fortunate enough to work beside.”

What is your favorite memory from Boise State?

“I love seeing each wonderful cohort of students graduate – the ceremony is very special to me. A fun memory was when I was selected as Faculty Coach for a Bronco football game. I felt like royalty!”

What are you most excited about?

“I am very anxious to spend more time with my husband and our family and friends. I want to work in the yard (I know that sounds crazy, but I truly love yardwork), I want to bake, sew, learn a new language, and read books on a wide assortment of topics.”