After almost 30 years of teaching, one Ohio University alumnus will greet June 30 as his last day.
Tom Davis, current secretary to the Board of Trustees and faculty member in the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education’s counselor education program, announced his retirement Wednesday.
“He is a valued colleague whose commitment to our students and the mission of Ohio University are exemplary,” OU President Roderick McDavis said in an email to faculty.
Davis studied general studies at OU and graduated in 1963. His salary is $149,194.
“I came here and loved my experience, and when I changed to a faculty member, I had to pinch myself that I had a chance to come back here and work,” Davis said. “It’s been a wonderful experience from the time I stepped on campus as a freshman to the day I’m sitting here right now. It’s been absolutely great. Go Bobcats.”
Davis was the first Board of Trustees secretary to also be a faculty member, said Becky Watts, McDavis' chief of staff.
“He decided to retire because that’s the path he’s chosen,” Watts said. “He decided that it’s time to retire now.”
Davis said he does not plan on cutting back his work during the three months he has left in his position.
“I feel like I’m gonna run right through the finish line,” Davis said. “We do have a lot of things that are on the table, all of which I want to continue to work with (the trustees) on.”
The search committee, consisting of six or seven people, will be formed once a representative is selected from each of the five senates — faculty, classified, student, graduate student and administration. The committee will conduct an internal search and will not use an external company, Watts said.
“Dr. Davis goes far beyond board secretary, and his dedication and commitment to students and faculty peers and to staff and to the entire university community is exemplary,” Watts added. “His service will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
The secretary position will remain part-time once it is filled, McDavis said in the email.
In his retirement, Davis said he hopes to continue to work with students and be “very active” at OU.
sj950610@ohiou.edu
