Ag Board Praises Roderick for Leadership at Fort Lewis College

The State Board of Agriculture today commended Steve Roderick, vice president for academic affairs, for his role as interim president of Fort Lewis College.

"Steve Roderick did an outstanding job of continuing the progress of Fort Lewis College in becoming a premier liberal arts institution," said Chuck Mabry, president of the State Board of Agriculture. "His administrative work and his commitment to the faculty, students and community have laid a solid foundation for the transition to the leadership of Kendall Blanchard."

Blanchard in early November was named the sixth president of Fort Lewis College. He comes to Fort Lewis from the University of Tennessee at Martin and will begin his duties in Durango early in 1999. Mabry cited the following accomplishments during Roderick’s stint as interim president:

  • The college continued progress on efforts to reform the college curriculum.
  • The college successfully managed extensive construction projects at the college, and maintained the schedule for completion with a minimum of disruption.
  • The college began the development of strategic initiatives to improve student retention.

Each year, the president of the college is evaluated based on the following criteria: leadership, planning and management; ability to foster positive, supportive relationships among campus groups and external constituencies; and fund-raising success.