2008 Winter - University Of Southern Indiana

RetirementsDarrel E. BighamContinuing to workon Lincoln BicentennialDr. Darrel Bigham, professor ofhistory, will see eight years of work ona federal commission begin to bear fruitin spring 2008, his last semester beforeretirement from USI.In 2000, hewas appointedby President BillClinton to theAbraham LincolnBicentennialCommission,charged byBighamCongress withseveral mandates,including thecreation of Lincoln-oriented stamps,a redesigned penny, and a specialrededication program at the LincolnMemorial in Washington, D.C.For Bigham, who chairs the commission’seducation committee, retirementmeans he will have more time forhis commission work. “My responsibilitiescontinue through the end of 2010,so this has been almost a full-time joband I’m glad I’ll have more time to workon it,” he said. The national kick-offevent is in February in Louisville.Bigham joined the Universityin 1970. He was instrumental in theformation and serves as director ofHistoric Southern Indiana, a USI outreachprogram that promotes the historical,cultural, and natural resources ofsouthern Indiana. “It’s a program I feelvery strongly about and feel we’ve madea significant contribution to the region,”he said. “We’ve gotten a great deal ofnational attention in the past 21 years.It was one of the earliest outreachprograms of the institution, and wecontinue to make a mark.”He has authored, co-authored,or edited 11 books, most recently OnJordan’s Banks: Emancipation and itsAftermath in the Ohio River Valley(University Press of Kentucky, 2005).When his work with the commissionends, he plans to write, travel, andspend more time with his wife Pollyat her family home in Woodstock,Vermont.Larry W. BohleberInnovation, creativityin programmingLarry W. Bohleber ’72, managerof the Center for Human ResourcesDevelopment, retires in 2008 after 23years with the University. His longtenure with USI Extended Serviceshas been marked by innovation.Bohleber was instrumentalin developing USI’s ManagementDiagnostic Center, a national awardwinningprogram that continues toassist businesses in developing supervisoryand management talent. He isan expert at organizational assessment,helping to clarify goals and build developmentplans that go far beyond just“training.”Dr. M. Edward Jones, dean ofExtended Services, said, “Larry developedthe nucleus of training and assessmentprograms for business and industryon which much of our outreach programsto area employers was built. Histalents and creativitywill be missed.”Bohleber hasbeen the primaryliaison betweenUSI colleges andarea businessesneeding on-sitecredit courses andspecialized degreeprograms.Linda Cleek, associate dean ofBohleberExtended Services, said Bohleber is acreative and engaging facilitator andinstructor who frequently calls uponhis talents as an amateur magician toadd to classroom fun and learning.Hundreds of noncredit studentshave enjoyed his courses on management,especially “Adventures inAttitudes.” He developed and delivereda well-received and effective customerservice program, “Advanced Connections,”for USI employees. He has taught coursesfor the colleges of Business andLiberal Arts, filling a section of introductorysociology nearly every semester.Recently, he has written a column ontraining issues for Evansville BusinessJournal.Cleek said, “Larry’s dedication toUSI and Extended Services has beenexemplary. I will miss his sense of humoras well as his ability to make the complexmanageable.”Leonard M. CookSteady handthrough growthLeonard M. Cook, associate professorof engineering, joined the Universityof Southern Indiana in 1975 and retiresin 2008 after 33 years of service.“Len is the consummate professional,”said Eric Sprouls, chair of theDepartment of Engineering. “He haswillingly taught overloads during theschool year and courses in the summersession.”Cook was the coordinator of themechanical engineering technology(MET) program from the inception ofthe engineering technology programat USI. Since the development of theundergraduate major in engineering,he has coordinated the mechanicalengineering (ME) option. The METprogram was the largest in the technologyprogram; the ME option is thelargest in the bachelor’s program inengineering.“Len has supervised these programswith a steady hand—making them rigorousand demanding, but graduatingexcellent and successful technologistsand engineers. He has taught two of theDecember 20076University of Southern Indiana