Remembering a teacher and a friend
Gary Kiger, former Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences dean, died Aug. 11 after battling brain cancer since February.
Kiger began working at USU in 1983 as a member of the sociology department and became the dean of HASS in 2003.
Under Kiger’s leadership, the College of HASS and USU saw many changes including the initiation of the religious studies program, a master in social work and the Caine School of Arts. It was also under Kiger’s direction that USU built the Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall.
USU President Stan Albrecht said, “The Utah State University family has lost a valued and much-loved member. Gary’s accomplishments were many, and he will be missed.”
After his passing, Kiger’s wife, Deborah Byrnes, said she wanted to do something in Kiger’s honor. She said she debated funding cancer research or scholarship but decided on the scholarship because of her husband’s passion for and love of academe.
“The scholarship would be something he had passion about and what he lived his life for,” she said. “The scholarship would be a wonderful tribute to him to recognize how important learning was to him.”
Byrnes has established a scholarship in his name available through the department of sociology, social work and anthropology.
–arie.k@aggiemail.usu.edu