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Karen W. Morse announced that she will retire as president of Western Washington University Sept. 1, 2008. Morse is the longest-serving president of all four-year institutions in the state. Morse, who is beginning her 15th year as president at Western, made the announcement on campus Friday, Sept. 21, at the annual Fall Faculty Luncheon. “Western’s reputation as one of the finest universities of its kind in the country is a tribute to President Morse’s leadership and vision,” said Kevin Raymond, chair of Western’s Board of Trustees. “A year from now, President Morse will leave a rich legacy of outstanding service to Western. We are so grateful for all that she does on behalf of Western and higher education in the state of Washington.” Morse has provided leadership that has fostered a collaborative student-centered academic environment; innovative faculty teaching and research; new programs, buildings and resources that enrich the learning process, and recognition of Western as one of the premier public master’s-granting universities in the nation. “I am proud I will have the opportunity to serve Western Washington University for 15 years. I care deeply about the mission of Western as an institution that provides high-quality academic opportunities,” Morse said. “The many accomplishments since I began as president are a tribute to the efforts of our faculty, staff, administration and students.” Since Morse began her tenure as president in 1993, enrollment has grown from 9,300 to 12,100 full-time equivalent students; the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty has increased from 456 to 627. Campus infrastructure has markedly improved, with construction of new buildings such as the Chemistry, Biology and Science, Math and Technology Education buildings, the Communications Facility building, Wade King Student Recreation Center and Campus Services facility; major renovation of the Haggard library and Viking Union and current construction of the Academic Instructional Center, the largest construction project in Western’s history. She also has personally led planning for expansion of Western to the Bellingham waterfront. For several years, Morse has been in discussion with the Board of Trustees to ensure that presidential succession will take place at a time beneficial to the university as well as to Morse and her family. “Personal considerations, including time for writing and consulting, two small grandchildren, family we don’t see very often and a desire to travel while we can enjoy it, prompted me to consider a new career that includes these elements.” said Morse. The timing for Morse’s retirement from the University reflected her determination to allow for a smooth transition and to provide leadership on key initiatives, including: completion of the university’s accreditation process; securing a solid Legislative budget; building on Western’s fund-raising capacity; continuing planning for future development at the waterfront and completing the first contract for a faculty union. Raymond said the trustees asked that Morse, in addition to her many other duties, provide leadership for this “robust agenda.” “I believed we would be well positioned in these areas by Sept. 1, 2008, and worked with the trustees for several years to plan retirement as president of this very fine University,” Morse said, adding that she will continue her active leadership of Western during the final year of her presidency. “The opportunity to lead Western has been and will continue to be a privilege and I expect to be active and not retired or retiring this year,” Morse said. Morse became Western's 12th chief executive in 1993. She is a member of many higher education associations and boards, including twice serving as chair of the Council of Presidents, a voluntary organization of the presidents of the state's higher education institutions. Morse just completed a seven-year term on the NCAA Division II President's Council and recently began a term on the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission on Women in Higher Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). She also serves on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' Task Force on Science and Mathematics Education and its Policies and Purposes Committee, and is on the board of directors of the Whatcom Symphony, and the Bellingham Whatcom Economic Development Council. She is a former member of the United Way Board and the Bellingham Festival of Music Board. She serves on the Puget Sound Blood Center Community Campaign Council and is a member of the Bellingham Rotary Club. In April 1997, Morse received the Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Award, one of the American Chemical Society's highest honors. She has published extensively in the field of chemistry and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She came to Western from Utah State University where she was provost. She served as a professor of chemistry, head of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, and dean of the College of Science before being named provost in 1989. She earned her doctorate and master's degrees from the University of Michigan and her bachelor's degree from Ohio's Denison University, which awarded her an honorary degree in 1990 and recognized her as an Outstanding Alumna as well. She is married to retired Western chemistry professor and director of Science Education Joseph G. Morse, whom she met while both were pursuing their doctorates at Michigan. The couple has two adult sons, Robert, an attorney in Washington, D.C., and Geoffrey, an assistant professor of biology at Arizona State University West and two granddaughters, Sophia and Victoria. A more extensive biography is available at http://www.wwu.edu/president/about.shtml. The search for a new president will involve formation of a search committee that will include WWU faculty, staff and students and community representation. Raymond said the board will seek input on the process from campus and community stakeholders. A consultant will be selected to help with the process and undertake an assessment of Western that will help determine the qualities in a new president that will best serve Western at this time in its history. The search consultant will also help the university identify strong candidates for the presidency. |
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