The Ceremony - University of La Verne

In his roles as adviser, professor, director
and dean, one principle has been paramount
for Eric Bishop: students always
come first.
Bishop has been known to say he had
1,500 children that he enjoyed caring for – a
reference to his commitment to students at
the University of La Verne.
“Many have graduated and left me, but I
always seem to adopt more,” he has said.
When he left his full-time job at the University
of La Verne in 2007, Bishop had been
at the university for 22 of the previous 24
years in one capacity or another. His roles included:
student, faculty member, and above
all, mentor and respected member of the La
Verne family. Countless people had come to
rely on the man they knew as “EB.”
“I used to joke with people that I had
served in every category at La Verne: as a classified
staff member, a faculty member and an
administrator. It was hard leaving,” Bishop,
now Dean of Chaffey College District’s Fontana
Campus, said.
He said he found it particularly difficult to
leave the students. And students also found
ALUMNI
a.k.a. E.B.
In 24 years, Eric Bishop made his mark on La Verne as a student, teacher and mentor
By Lisa O’Neill Hill
After a long stay
at La Verne,
Eric Bishop now
devotes his
time to helping
students at
Chaffey College’s
Fontana Campus,
where he is Dean
of Students.
Walt Weis image
24 VOICE Summer/Fall 2011
Diversity/Inclusivity
it tough to say goodbye to their champion
and friend.
The timing was right, however, and Bishop
couldn’t pass up such an opportunity. He
said he was fortunate to land at an institution
that “mimics and mirrors the same values at
ULV.”
His contributions to La Verne have earned
him respect from students, faculty and staff.
In 2008, he was named the Distinguished
Alumni Award Winner for Service to Alma
Mater. That prompted formation of an “EB
Fan Club” on Facebook, where students,
alumni and colleagues left him notes of congratulations
and spoke of his impact.
“You’re what ULV is all about…family, dedication,
excellence,” one former student wrote.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1988 and
began working in La Verne’s Communications
Department. After a short stint away from
campus, he returned in 1994 with a master’s
degree and began work as a faculty member,
teaching journalism and mass communications
while advising for the Campus Times.
He moved into administration in 2001,
first working as Director of Academic Advising
and later as Associate Dean of Academic
Support and Retention Services. He worked
in administration for six years.
Earlier this year, Bishop, who earned a
doctorate in organizational leadership, was
chosen to speak at La Verne’s commencement
ceremonies.
Bishop said he was flattered to be asked to
deliver a commencement speech. He said he
was honored to have the opportunity to address
college graduates and future educators
and hoped to offer words of wisdom and encouragement.
Simon Bouie, who graduated from La
Verne in 1999, has said Bishop would do
anything in his power to help someone.
“He is a reflection of what one can argue
is the most intriguing thing about a La Verne
education,” Bouie said, “the opportunity for
a student to not only learn from, but to become
engaged in the lives of their instructors
and establish true, lasting friendships.”
Read an extended version of
this story at: http://laverne.edu/
voice/2011/10/a-k-a-e-b/
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