WSU Today Online - Look Who's Retiring!

WSU Retirements

Following is an unofficial list of WSU employees who will retire soon or who recently retired. If you know one of the people retiring and would like to add a comment or photo, please click on the following link to the Retirement Submission Form. OR, if you would like to announce your retirement, please click on the Retirement Submission Form link and follow the instruction.

Lance LeLoup, June 15, 2009

Lance LeLoup, vice provost of international programs and Regents professor of political science, retired from WSU on June 15, 2009.

LeLoup came to WSU in1996 to serve as chair of the Department of Political Science, a position he held until 2001. He also served as director of the Thomas Foley Institute and has been head of International Programs since 2005.

In 2007, LeLoup received the Aaron Wildavsky Lifetime Achievement Award for Research on Public Budgeting. He was recently promoted to Regents Professor, the first faculty member from political science to achieve that rank.

LeLoup has had a long and distinguished career in teaching and research, publishing more than a dozen books and 60 articles on American politics, budgeting, Congress and the presidency, and post-communist transformation in Central and Eastern Europe.

In his four years at International Programs, external funding for development projects around the world has tripled, the number of WSU students studying abroad has increased by 50 percent, international student enrollment has increased, international partnerships have been strengthened and expanded, and the campus and curriculum have become more internationalized. Under his leadership, the Office of Global Studies was created and the number of global studies minors has gone from under five to over 100.

"We appreciate his service and contributions to WSU, wish him the very best in retirement, and look forward to his continued contributions to WSU as a Regents Professor Emeritus," Bayly said.

H. Dennis Brown, May 31, 2009

H. Dennis Brown, extension information specialist with the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, retired May 31, 2009, after nearly 30 years of service.

Brown, who earned a journalism degree at the University of Iowa, began work as a WSU Extension information specialist in 1979.

Brown and his wife are planning to move to Arizona in the future and he said he hopes to write his first mystery novel.

See related article, May 31, 2009, The Daily Evergreen.

John E. Kicza, May 7, 2009

Department of History cochair John E. Kicza is retiring this spring. The department will be honoring Kicza at a reception open to everyone on May 7 in the College Hall Anthropology Museum at 3 p.m.

Kicza has been cochair of the Department of History since 2007. He served as interim chair from 2005–2007 and as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 2001–2005. He has served on the graduate faculty of the American Studies Program since 2000 and is a former Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor.

Dr. Kicza received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1979 and has taught at WSU since 1980. His field of expertise is Latin American history and early European overseas culture contacts. Dr. Kicza’s most recent books are The Indian in Latin American History: Resistance, Resilience, and Acculturation , 2nd ed. (Scholarly Resources, 2000); The Social History of Spanish America in the National Period (Academia

Nacional de la Historia de Venezuela, 1998); and Resilient Cultures: America’s Native Peoples Confront European Colonization, 1500–1800 (Prentice Hall, 2002). His articles, chapters, and entries have appeared in such journals as the William and Mary Quarterly , Hispanic American Historical Review , Renaissance Quarterly , and the Latin American Research Review .

Dr. Kicza has received such grants as an NEH Summer Stipend, a USIA Academic Specialist Grant to teach in Argentina, an NEH Resident Scholar, and a Fulbright Research Grant.

Dr. Kicza lives in Pullman with his wife Diane, administrative manager for Marketing Communications at WSU. Their two children, Adrienne and Andrew, are college graduates.

F. Dana Lohrey, Oct. 31, 2008

F. Dana Lohrey, the student services director in the College of Pharmacy, retired Oct. 31, after 30 years at Washington State University.

Rod Commons, Sept. 30, 2008

Rod Commons, WSU sports information director for more than 30 years, officially retired Sept. 30, 2008. Commons retired as SID in the fall of 2007, but continued to work part-time for about another year. In addition to providing news and information about Cougar sports to media around the world, Commons also served as the 2004-2005 president of College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), and he was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2007.

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-- Joe Nickell, assistant director, WSU Athletic Communications

It's the End of an Era... Rod Commons has been "retired" for about a year now, but has still been in the office nearly every day working part-time. But on Tuesday, after more than 30 years at Washington State University, former Sports Information Director Rod Commons called it a career, officially retiring.

Many of you know Rod, and many of you may not, as most of the time Sports Information Directors lay low behind the scenes. But he was very well known amongst his peers, serving as the president of College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) during the 2004-05 academic year, and he was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rod has done a lot not only for WSU and its athletic department, but for countless students who have attended this school, myself included.

Bill Stevens, the new WSU sports information director, is a Cougar graduate. Three of the four assistant directors in this office are Cougar graduates. There are Cougar graduates in sports information offices throughout the country. Each and every one of us owes a great deal to Rod.

We had a retirement party for Rod, and he will be honored at a basketball game later this year. But I personally want to thank Rod for everything he has done for me. He has had a major impact on my life, and the lives of many others.

Rod...Your presence will be immensely missed...

Adele Moneymaker, April 1, 2008

Adele Moneymaker, fiscal specialist for the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resources Sciences and the WSU Extension Business and Finance Office, is retiring after 31 years of service to WSU. Although her last name has not helped create more money, her fiscal skills have helped many across the university and the state. Adele worked at the CUB from 1976-83; in the Controller's Office from 1984-89; at CAHNRS Business and Finance Office from 1989-92; in the Controller's Office in the travel section and accounts payable from 1992-01, and in CAHNRS Business and Finance Office from 2001-08. A reception will be held in her honor 2-4 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2008, in Hulbert Hall 409. Please send cards or remembrances to Mike Petrusky at petrusky@wsu.edu or P.O. Box 646241, Pullman, WA 99164-6241.

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-- Syndi Ellison, retired, WSU University Relations

Adelle, you will love retirement, I have had a blast. You were always so very helpful to me over the years and I'd like to thank your for all your help. Have a wonderful retirement and tons of fun.

Dorothy Larson, March 28, 2008

Dorothy Larson, principal assistant, School of Molecular BioSciences, WSU Pullman, retired after 44 years of employment in the same department. A reception will be held in her honor 2:30-5:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, in Smith CUE in Room 518. Faculty and staff are invited to attend and/or participate sharing their memories created with Dorothy.

John Glass, February 2008

John Glass, director of Central Stores and director of WSU Materials and Resources Management, retired Feb. 27, following 21 years of employment at WSU and service to the community. A reception was held in his honor Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Lighty Student Services Building 405. Faculty and staff participated in a short program and sharing of memories of working with John.

Karl Boehmke, December 2007

Karl Boehmke, executive director of planning and budget, is retiring after 32 years of service to WSU. A farwell reception will be held 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Lewis Alumni Centre. For information, call Willemina Kardong at 509-335-6664.

Boehmke has served as executive director since 1999. From 1975 to 1986, Boehmke worked in the College of Business and Economics, first as administrative assistant to the dean and then as college finance officer. In 1986, he moved to the budget office.

“I feel extremely fortunate to have spent my career at an institution as friendly and as successful as WSU. It has been remarkable to see it grow from single campus regional institution to an internationally recognized multi-campus research university. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Cougar family,” said Boehmke.

“Karl’s work at Washington State University has been extraordinary, both for its longevity and its quality. His expertise on budget issues has been a great resource for the university,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd.

Boehmke said his wife Mary Ann will be retiring from her position at the University of Idaho on the same date. He said they plan to do lots of bicycling, hiking and travel during their retirement.

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Away from Pullman, I have kept vivid impressions of the contrast between Karl's quiet and unassuming demeanor and his athleticism and active intellectual life. Whatever we like to say about "active retirement," I have no doubt that Karl's retirement will be truly active and wish him full enjoyment of it. --- Marina Tolmacheva President American University of Kuwait

Paula Elliot, December 2007

Paula Elliot, humanities reference librarian, WSU Pullman, is retiring. Elliot, above, was the originator of the popular Atrium Music concert series. She will be honored at a special retirement gathering on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 3-5 p.m. in the Terrell Library Atrium. The event will include some special music in honor of Paula and her many contributions to the WSU Libraries and the University.

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Paula's announced retirement took me by surprise. Her energy has always shone through in active campus enga! gement, whether at the Library, in the World Civilizations group, or on the local music scene. I can imagine that retirment will allow her more time for travel and let another group of music lovers to benefit from her knowledge and talent. Retired or not, I am sure Paula will remain active for many years to come and wish her full enjoyment of this "different state of mind." --- Marina Tolmacheva President American University of Kuwait

Dawn Wisniew, December 2007

Dawn Wisniew, administrative manager, mathematics department, WSU Pullman, is retiring after nearly 25 years of service at WSU. Wisniew, above, is also a championship Scrabble player.

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