LIVINGSTON,
Ala.—University
of West Alabama Professor of History and Dean of
the School of Graduate Studies Dr. Joe B.
Wilkins has announced his retirement effective
Jan. 2, 2007.
|
Dr. Joe Wilkins
shares a final smile with graduate
students prior to commencement
exercises. |
A Virginia native, Wilkins came to UWA in 1978
as a history professor looking to pursue his
passion and start a teaching career. He saw five
University presidents and spent his entire
academic career in Livingston, winning every
teaching award given by the University.
“I fell in love with the place. I liked the
small campus atmosphere, enjoyed the students
and quickly developed a network of great friends
here,” Wilkins remembers.
Wilkins says he had two visions at the
institution. First, as a professor, he took a
personal interest in his students, cherishing
those relationships and taking great joy in
seeing the success of alumni from all walks of
life.
“Administrators come through the trade by being
a professor first. Through the years, students
became my family. I truly believe that is one of
the great strengths of UWA. We do indeed care
for our students,” he said.
Second, when he took over as Coordinator of
Graduate Studies in January 1995, Wilkins went
to work to ease the tremendous burden of
graduate students driving to campus to continue
their education. Online learning emerged in 2002
as the best way to connect UWA professors with
students trying to juggle careers, families and
graduate work.
“As a rural university, we had a tremendous
demand to offer alternative modes of delivery,”
Wilkins said. “We have grown from just two
students to more than 1500 online graduate
students in 2007. When I took this job, the
graduate school had less than 300 students. It
has over 1800 students now.”
“The University is sincerely grateful to Dr.
Wilkins for his years of exemplary service to
the University, to the community and to the
state,” President Richard Holland said. “He has
been a scholarly and congenial colleague, and he
and his wife, Mim, will be greatly missed as
part of the University community.”
“I cherish the moments that I have had at the
university, and I always will be a Tiger,”
Wilkins said.
In the wake of Wilkins’ retirement, President
Holland announces that Dr. Tom DeVaney will
serve as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Martha Hocutt will become Dean of the
College of Education, and Dr. Louis Smith will
become Associate Dean of the College of
Education.
