Alumni Association Home > Past Issues > 2002 > July-August 2002	Print View

Each year as spring arrives, another academic year draws to a close. It is a bittersweet moment. Students feel proud of what they have accomplished and relieved to have successfully completed another year of scholarly challenge. There is also a hint of sadness in the air as they gather their belongings, bid classmates farewell, and prepare to disperse in all directions of the globe. For graduating seniors, it is the end of a chapter marked by tremendous personal growth and hard-earned achievements. It is also a time of uncertainty and hope as they prepare to embark on the next chapter in their lives.

Today, alumni and friends of the University share similar mixed emotions as we bid farewell to a very special man who will be departing along with this year’s class of graduates. In late May, University President Mark Yudof announced that he is leaving Minnesota to assume the position of chancellor at the University of Texas, the state where he and his family lived for 26 years.

Like so many of you, I was sad to hear of President Yudof’s decision to leave. This past year, as president of the alumni association, I traveled all over the United States to meet with alumni—from New York City to Naples, Florida, to Sun City in Arizona. Back in Minnesota, I met with numerous alumni chapters and community leaders. Wherever I went, I found overwhelming support for President Yudof. Nowhere was that support more evident than at the alumni association’s annual meeting at the McNamara Alumni Center in June, when nearly 1,000 alumni rose to their feet to give a thunderous and lengthy ovation for our president.

What is it about this man that has inspired such gratitude and warmth among so many alumni? President Yudof generated excitement with his ambitious strategy to create five academic centers of excellence and position the U to become one of the top public research institutions in the nation. He engaged the help of all of us in his efforts to create a Beautiful U, a warm and welcoming campus we could all take pride in. Mark Yudof has the unique ability to create a clear and compelling vision for the future of an institution, then garner support to make the vision a reality. As a result, he was able to accomplish great things these past five years, including the dramatic renovation of the Twin Cities campus and the remarkable success of Campaign Minnesota.

In addition, he was a change agent in an environment where a preponderance of committees, red tape, and competing self-interests presented a daunting barrier to anyone who dared to alter the status quo. He expected and demanded that all University units work together toward one common vision, and they were held accountable for their results. He was willing to confront difficult issues, such as the fiscal challenges in intercollegiate athletics, and, when necessary, to make tough decisions to move the University forward.

But it is not just President Yudof’s deeds people will remember; it is his style: his approachability, his humor, his intellect, and his work ethic. He is the common man’s academic who not only has a thirst for knowledge but a consuming hunger for the perfect pancake. And he worked tirelessly, day and night, seven days a week, to advocate for the U.

For any organization that aspires to greatness, the work is never done. Such is the case at the University of Minnesota. The next president will inherit the challenging task of building a world-class public research university in a state where legislators and communities struggle to find ways to pay for it. A new athletics director must be named who can reassemble men’s and women’s athletics into a stronger, more cohesive, and financially sound organization. Like our graduates, our apprehension is mixed with hope. For we are much closer to these goals because of the progress made by President Yudof.

So, while we are sad to see the Yudofs leave our North Star state for the Lone Star state, we alumni—in Minnesota and around the world—are grateful for President Yudof’s leadership and service these past five years. The many things accomplished during his term will benefit the University and our state for decades to come. On behalf of our board and our association, I wish Mark Yudof and wife Judy the very best in their new endeavors.