VP Chambers to retire at end of school year
While Gary Chambers is a name few students may recognize, his hard work and dedication to Utah State has benefited all USU students, said Jenn Putnam, director of the Office of Admissions.
Chambers is currently the vice president of Student Services for Utah State. However, he is retiring at the end of this year. While a search for a new VP of Student Services is currently underway, Putnam said Chamber’s work will always be with USU.
“I think if every student understood just how much Gary Chambers has done to make their experience as positive as can be, they would all be begging him to postpone retirement,” Putnam said.
In his position, Chambers serves as the primary advocate for students in addition to directing all services on campus that exist to help students be successful, both in the classroom and in their social lives, Putnam said.
Chambers’s position as the vice president of Student Services has only been a small portion of his time at USU.
“I was here as a student and received both a bachelor’s degree and master’s from Utah State,” he said. “As far as employment is concerned, I’ve worked at USU for 30 years.”
Chambers said he has loved his time as the vice president for Student Services, and while he will miss being a part of the day-to-day life at USU, Chambers said he is optimistic for the future of Utah State.
“I think Utah State is heading in a tremendous direction right now. Under (USU) President Stan Albrecht’s leadership, we are really returning to the roots of a land-grant institution,” Chambers said. “I suspect when that day comes that I have to leave campus it’ll be an emotional time because it has been an incredible place to be.”
While Chambers is retiring from academia, he said life won’t settle down for him at the end of the year. He and his wife are planning to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this summer.
To fill Chambers’ position, a committee has been established by Albrecht. On the committee is USU Provost Raymond Coward, Vice President of University Advancement Ross Peterson, Putnam and many other central administrators.
“The search committee members serve a as screening and recommending body – we reviewed all of the applications submitted for the position and made recommendations of those to interview via teleconference to the president and provost,” Putnam said.
A small group of candidates has already been approved by the president and has been invited to the USU campus during the next few weeks for further interviewing, Putnam said. Their visit is also meant to reveal how the candidate fits in with USU, she said.
“Any faculty, staff and students who interact with the candidates during their visit will be invited to share feedback with a member of the search committee,” she said.
While the committee is deeply involved in the interviewing process, Putnam said the final decision is made by the president.
–greg.boyles@aggiemail.usu.edu