139113 SRU Mag Back NEW - Slippery Rock University

view from the president
By Bill Kirker, ’73, SRUAA President
An Enjoyable Task
It was an honor and privilege for me to
represent you, the members of the
Slippery Rock University Alumni
Association at the inauguration of President
Robert Smith as the 15 th president of
the Rock.
President Smith came to Slippery Rock
University as the provost and vice president
for academic affairs in 1999, around the time
that I was elected to the board of directors. It
was at that time that the Office of Alumni
Relations became a part of the Division of
Academic Affairs. Since then I have had an
opportunity to interact with President Smith
on a number of initiatives of importance to
both alumni and the University.
Beginning while the provost and
continuing during his role as interim
president and now as the president of our
alma mater, President Smith has worked
diligently to advance the University. He
assembled a team to reverse the declining
enrollments that the Rock experienced
through much of the 1990s. He oversaw the
rearrangement of departments into the
current colleges and schools. Few people
relish change, but he moved forward to link
and group key departments and programs
for efficiency and effectiveness. During this
time, the Alumni Association constructed a
picnic pavilion near N. Kerr Thompson
Stadium and Critchfield Park that has
become a popular spot for students, alumni
and the community to enjoy as well as a site
for various events and activities. We also
were part of a collaborative effort that led to
Gallery 164 on Main Street, one of the first
new storefronts in what has become the
Village at Slippery Rock.
When he accepted the interim
presidency in December 2002, President
Smith moved ahead boldly, yet in
collaboration with many others, to address
concerns of the Pennsylvania State System of
Higher Education and then move on to
initiate capital projects. While making
programmatic changes on campus, he also
moved forward with the Regional Learning
Alliance in Cranberry Township that has
placed SRU as a leader in serving the
corporate and learning needs in the north
Pittsburgh corridor, as well as students from
the Rock and other institutions.
In my role as president of the Alumni
Association, and formerly president-elect,
I have had numerous opportunities to
interact with President Smith. I can assure
you that he is committed to our alumni and
has a passion to see that our alma mater is
among the top in categories ranging from
academics to community and service
learning. He is a person of vision and will
continue to promote excellence.
President Smith has been a supporter of
our Alumni House expansion and seeks to
engage you, our members, in many ways.
Our board looks forward to continuing to
work together with President Smith in the
coming years.
A special congratulations goes out to
Eric Holmes, ’93, and president-elect of the
Alumni Association for receiving a Pacesetter
Award as part of the activities at the Rock
marking the 50 th anniversary of Brown vs.
the Board of Education decision.
Wrestling Alumni Update
Upcoming Events
Coach Derek DelPorto invites all alumni from these
areas to the following away wrestling matches:
• East Stroudsburg University, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
• Bloomsburg Meet - Bloomsburg University,
Millersville University, Ohio University,
Jan. 22, 9 a.m.
• PSAC Championships, E. Stroudsburg, Jan. 28-29
• Gannon University (coached by Don Henry, '83),
Erie, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
• East Regional Duals, SRU, 10 a.m.
• NCAA Division I East Regionals (alumni reception
after the meet), Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Check the wrestling web site for the complete
schedule. For more information, contact Coach
DelPorto at 724-738-2722 or derek.delporto@sru.edu.
Please send Coach DelPorto your e-mail address so he
can add you to the wrestling mailing list.
FIVE COACHES: Jim Harshaw, Derek DelPorto, ‘99, Fred Powell,
Steve Roberts, ‘83, and Chris Elliott, ’00, represent the last five
head wrestling coaches at Slippery Rock University.
REUNION TIME: Head Coach
Derek DelPorto, ‘99,
welcomed back more than
70 wrestling alumni and
friends for a reunion during
homecoming. Pictured here
are the alumni who marched
in the homecoming parade.
18 Alumni Weekend June 17-18 THE ROCK INSIDER - Winter 2005