LSC's 13th president retires after 13 years

In 13 years our country has seen three different presidents, but our school has seen only one.

Through a recent e-mail, President Carol A. Moore announced to the Lyndon State College community that she will be retiring from her position as president, her last day being June 30, 2011. This decision didn't come lightly, as Moore says she had been in conversation with the VSC Chancellor, Tim Donovan, for several weeks deciding how to proceed in her career.

"My plan was to stay another year, until 2012," Moore said. "But my parents need my help and so does my husband. My time needs to be allocated to them now." Moore's parents are in their 90s, currently living independently, and her husband was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

According to the May 5, 1998 edition of The Critic, Moore was named the 13^th president of LSC on May 1, 1998, after beating out over 150 other candidates for the position. Since then, enrollment has increased a total of 31 percent, according to Moore, and some of what she considers to be the most notable changes for LSC aren't things you can see.

"I've seen LSC become less inward looking and more outward looking," says Moore. "I think it operates more professionally now."

Moore says that another change was an increase in professional development here at LSC, as well as an increased amount of institutional aid for LSC students.

"The development of a culture of philanthropy in the community and within our alumni has come a long way," says Moore, something she considers a very important change, adding, "The college really needs it."

Lyndon has undergone many changes since Moore began her term as president. The physical plant has seen numerous renovations, including the recent overhaul of Harvey Academic Center, new Student Activities and Leadership Center and lounge area, and bathrooms in some of the Stonehenge residence halls.

The addition of the Academic and Student Activities (ASAC) building is among the "most important physical changes," says Moore. "It really upgrades the appearance of the campus and creates a better learning environment."

The Rita Bole Complex, constructed in 2005, was an addition to the residence halls to accommodate the growth of the students.

Academic programs have seen growth and change too. The General Education Units (GEUs) students currently enrolled at LSC follow were the same when Moore began, but will see changes from the faculty for the next year. Programs such as the music business and industry department were added to LSC during Moore's tenure, just one of the seven or eight new programs Moore remembers being added to the curriculum.

"To have a successful college, the main ingredient has to be new programs," Moore says, referring to the up and coming criminal justice major that has already generated student interest.

Personnel are an area that changes year to year, and that rang true for Moore's term here, too. Of all the deans who worked at LSC when Moore started, Dean of Administration Wayne Hamilton is the only one remaining. Darcie Miles, executive assistant to the president, didn't join the LSC team until about seven years ago, Moore recalls, when previous executive assistant Janet Charron retired. Charron had worked for the college for over 30 years as the executive assistant for numerous LSC presidents.

What's next for Moore?

"Despite the civil rights movements we've seen in this country, there is still a lot of prejudice," Moore explains, referring to equality for women. She plans to use her knowledge and experience in this field to continue working for gender equality and spending more time and attention in this area.

Moore has been a part of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) for a while, and she would like to continue to work with them in regards to student success and student access to college.

What will Moore miss most when she leaves?

"That's easy," she says, "I'm going to miss the students. You all are great."

The evolution of LSC during Carol Moore's tenure: