Upon Bob C.’s Retirement
It is with sadness, but also with celebration, that I write this note about retiring Vice Chancellor for Research Bob Cashner. When one leaves a position as I did in 2001 after 8 years of giving one’s heart and soul to it, there is always a concern that the one who follows might not be able to “keep the dream alive” and to grow it. I have been pleased to observe over these seven years Bob’s accomplishments in both arenas. His commitment to enhance research funding and excellent research outcomes has been there, even through the post-Katrina nightmare for any VC for Research – destruction of buildings, equipment, severe challenges in applying for funding and even the “dissing” of researchers for applying from “ground zero” (Let’s hit them when they are down!). He stuck with it and did so in a way that has brought wide ranging appreciation and success. His spirit, his concern for faculty, his sense of humor under the worst conditions both here at UNO, and for him personally with the loss of Fran, put him above most in the kind of support he has been able to give – caring, concern, understanding, encouragement.
It gives me personal pleasure to write this note for two reasons. First, as young graduate student friends at Tulane, “who would have thought” that these two 60’s hippy-like types, part of the Royal Suttkus “royal” fish collecting and preserving team at Tulane (my ex. is also an ichthyologist) would both become Vice Chancellors. I suspect that neither of us imagined that in our wildest dreams.
And the other reason that Bob’s success gives me pleasure is that he embodies the caring style of administration usually attributed more often to women. And, although difficult for me to assess myself, I suspect it contrasts with my more instrumental style. So we both held the role (that a surprise) and reversed gender stereotypes (another nice surprise for leveling such qualities – everyone of whichever gender should be able to reflect one, the other or both, not one or the other gender laying claim). It’s been a pleasure to watch him achieve his accomplishments with his style.
All the best to you Bob in your retirement and in your grand parenting!
Authored by Shirley Laska on February 19, 2008