Acknowledgements

A career of 40 years in higher education was not a solitary venture. I have many to thank for their roles in my journey from a Hall Director to an Interim and Associate VP. So I acknowledge those people here.

To Susan Winter, Rich Egley, Coleen Grissom, and Felicia, who served as mentors and offeredme their guidance, leadership, and friendship. 

To all of the colleagues I worked with in Student Affairs/Student Life over the years. So many hall directors, area coordinators, assistant and associate directors, to mention some. These people were my people. We shared incredible challenges, successes, and traumas. I could fill a book, but want to shout out Jeff Janz, Rhonda Viney, Pete Neville, Gary Neal, Stephen Nickle, Raphael Moffett, Ben Newhouse, Alex Serna-Wallender, Jamie Thompson, Betty Curry, Wanda Olson, Melissa Flowers, Sheryl Tynes, Gage Paine, Thurman Adkins, and Richard Reams.

To those who endured me in a support role, including Bonnie Trabucco, Brenda Black, Lynette Kenyon, Kris Weese, Meredith Ruiz, Clara Wells, Leslie Orman, Ruby Contreras, Megan Kruse, Clara Wells, Christina Castillo, and Yvonne Gonzalez. 

To all of the colleagues I worked with outside of Student Affairs. These people endured my bossiness, persistence, and successful and unsuccessful attempts at humor. These include, but are in no way limited to, John Greene, Melvin McGarity, Tim O'Sullivan, Andrew Hanson, Steve DiPrima, Cory Bourg, Charles Gonzalez, Mike Fisher, Chuck White, Bob King, Fred Rodriguez, Fred Zapata, Eric Maloof, Justin Doty, Chris Nolan, Chris Ellertson, Aspen, Ruben Duprtuis, Dennis Massey, Virginia Fraser, Callie Collins, Eileen Hulme, Bruce Bravo, and so, so many more.

To Rick Roberts. 

To the presidents, all of whom were very good to me and my family: Ron Calgaard, John Brazil, Dennis Ahlburg, Mike Fischer, and Danny Anderson. 

To my compadres in the Associated Colleges of the South. Deans-Like-Me gathered annually to discuss out lives in parallel universes. Some include Carol Casey, Randy Hays, Steve Bisese, Jerry Brody, Tom Shandley, Dawn Watkins, Len Goldberg, Harry Shucker, and Dudley Long. 

To all of those who played noonball and IM basketball under the name of The Administrators with me. These names are memorialized on a plaque in the Bell Center citing the Noonball Hall of Fame of Basketball. Likewise, to ll of the many faculty, students, and staff members who participated in my Running With the Dean program and the Dean of Students Half Marathon Challenge and Kayla Mire food drive - nearly 1,000 people in all. 

To all of the parents of Trinity University students. In various eras we communicated over list-servs and other formats and we met in receptions, at orientations, when students were in trouble, and when students were troubled. I have to acknowledge Kevin Reinis, Katie Byrnes, and Robert Foye. I always loved working with our parents, and it wasn't always easy for many of us. But the investment of time, money, emotional energy was smething I hopefully always respcted. Thank you or everything and apologies as well. 

To the Trinity alumni. Without fail, regardless of our reasons for meeting, positive or negative, I feel like when we enjoy one another or meet in fly-bys, we always connect around our shared experiences. I have hugged it out with more alumni who I oversaw their firing or suspensions than I can count. And so many are lifelong friends.

Likewise, to the students. The reason why I did what I did. I like to think I was student-centered, in small individual ways, and in administrative and policy decision-making. The members of ASR, SGA, Student Court, Student Conduct Board, and those who served as the wonderful Resident Assistants of Trinity University. I love you all for our time in the trenches and lifelong relationships. And to the many students who were so bright, fun, engaging, and touched my life in ways big and small. And finally to the souls we lost among them. Nearly twenty students passed when I was here and the weight of each loss compounded te loss of each before it. Students don't come to college... parents don' send their kids to college... to die. I thank those families who allowed me to journey with them in very personal terms. 

To Brit Katz abd the team at Southwestern University who brought me on as an Interim VP for Student Life. It was the perfect encore and curtain call and gave me my mojo back. Shelley Story, Bri Pierce, Evan Alexander, Col Roche, Ana Castillo, Jeff Doyle, Malissa Ismaila, Sergio, Ron Swain, Stefanie Alvarez, and Sonia Miranda. I loved our year together. You were so committed, so good, and so damn fun.

And finally, to my wife, Donna Tuttle. She married a Residential Life Coordinator, moved to Texas, worked part-time and raised the kids while I worked and was away at many weekend and nighttime activities and crises. She had to pretend to be interested when people said good things about me. She supported me when they were mean. She sacrificed, lived on campus where she raised our family, and was and is the foundation of the family including four children and now a few grandchildren. She helped me when my confidence and sel-doubt were at my lowest. That was a lot of times. I love her so much.