Godfrey leaving for LDS mission
Ron Godfrey, vice president of business and finance will be leaving Utah State University to serve as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Godfrey has been teaching at USU in the business department for two years, and was promoted to vice president of business and finance one year ago. Godfrey said he was not expecting to serve a mission, and the call was a “full surprise.”
Godfrey said he will assist USU President Stan Albrecht in making the decision to fill Godfrey’s position.
They have not yet decided whether or not they will perform a national search, or select someone from the department.
Although Godfrey said he doesn’t know the exact location of his mission, he does know it will be an English-speaking three-year mission beginning on July 1.
Godfrey said he would love to come back to USU but is not sure if the opportunity will be available.
“I love Utah State with all my heart,” Godfrey said “I have a passion for this place.”
Godfrey is responsible, in part, for all the facilities, the buildings and utilities, as well as the entire auxiliary, the bookstore, USU Police Department and parking. Godfrey is also responsible for many university financial issues such as managing the budget and finding ways to cut costs.
Godfrey said one of his biggest challenges is finding funding for the fuel and power bill and working with the state Legislature to solve problems.
Godfrey said as USU becomes more privatized, the ability to raise money has become much harder.
“We can solve a lot of problems with money,” Godfrey said. “We’ve solved a lot so far.”
Among his list of accomplishments at USU, Godfrey said he is most proud of the progress on the new library and recital hall and securing the financing for the new housing and parking projects.
Godfrey said he gains the most satisfaction from teaching.
He said he loves teaching students to be consistent with their core values and focus on gaining knowledge in order to help them to avoid making the same mistakes he made when they graduate.
“Your core values really drive attitudes, which ultimately drive behavior. If behavior is consistent with your core values, your performance will always be exceptional,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey said this lesson is the “key to life” and helps him tack the focus of a class off the grades.
“These jobs are really a stewardship – to give back to the next generation what we’ve learned,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey said he will most miss the relationships he has with the people at USU, and the kindness he has been shown.
“I work with great people,” Godfrey said “if anyone deserves credit, they do.”
In the future, Godfrey said he would like to see more focus put on the salary and compensation issues for the faculty and is looking forward to seeing the housing and parking project completed.
-etippetts@cc.usu.edu