May 2005

CAMPUS NEWS

Favorite Faculty Retire After More than 30 Years Each

For more than 30 years each, four of AU’s professors have helped shape generations of young minds by encouraging their curiosity, sharpening their intellect, and applauding their aspirations. And while such work is never finished, this year’s retiring faculty is ready to satisfy their own curiosity about the next stage in their lives.

Valerie French, from the College of Arts and Sciences, retires from the teaching field after 36 years. French has dedicated much of her researching and teaching to Ancient life and society, focusing on childhood and family life. Probing classical Greek and Roman literature, archaeological discoveries, and whatever public records remain from the ancient eras, the pioneering historian has found that even in prebiblical times children lay at the emotional core of family life. Though she’s careful to note that her findings apply mainly to middle and upper class ancient families for which there is data and that the ancients were still nowhere near as child centered as contemporary families, French looks on the research she’ll continue into retirement as validation of the universal appeal of children and the timeless history of concern for their well-being.

Also after 36 years, Associate Dean and Visual Media professor Glenn Harnden said he plans to follow the example of his 3-year-old grandson and “go out and play,” and looks forward to gardening, barbecuing, traveling, bicycling, playing guitar, and spending quality time with his wife. An independent producer, director, and documentary and educational film writer, Harnden says he’s “been fortunate enough to work with people who are not just colleagues, but friends.” He cited students’ film projects among his most precious memories. “We’d have graduate students doing thesis work, and they would screen a project that was just completely original, powerful, funny, moving, and beautifully executed. They had learned to tell a story through film. Those are the memories I hold closest.”

For the last 20 years, Harnden has been “the glue holding the School of Communication together,” said Dean Larry Kirkman. “Today we take it for granted that SOC faculty tap into all the resources that Washington offers, but Glenn raised those expectations.”

Gary Bulmash, Kogod School of Business professor, retires after 30 years at AU. “My colleagues, my students, they’ve all been great,” he said. “I will definitely miss the people I’ve met here.” Bulmash taught financial accounting, auditing, and cost and income tax. In addition to serving as faculty advisor for Beta Gamma Sigma, the business management society, he’s also been Kogod’s faculty marshal for graduation for the last 25 years. Bulmash is planning to continue teaching at the University of Maryland. He remarked, “I’m not hanging up the gloves yet…I got my degrees at Maryland, so, in a sense, I’m going back home,” he said.

Acting Kogod Dean William DeLone explained that it will be hard to find another professor like Bulmash who has taught such a diverse curriculum. “One would be hard pressed to find another faculty member in the Kogod School of Business who has taught as many courses as Gary Bulmash on such diverse subjects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has done so with such consistent high quality.”

The School of Public Affairs is saying goodbye to Bernard Ross, professor of public administration of 38 years. Ross, whose areas of focus over the years have included urban management, city politics, and regional affairs, and who served as chair of the department of public administration for 14 years.

Ross said he cherishes the relationships with students he has made at AU over the years. “As a faculty, we needed to understand that the students were our most important asset. And by making ourselves readily available to them, we could, in fact, put ourselves ahead of other schools.” He recalled fondly when, in the early 1990s, the public administration program was named among the top 10 in the country by U.S. News & World Report. “That was something we had been working toward for a good 15 years,” says Ross. “After that, the faculty got a different level of respect, both on campus and within their organizations.”

According to SPA Dean William LeoGrande, Ross’s leadership has left an extraordinary mark on the school. “Bernie Ross was one of a small cohort of key faculty that joined the public administration program in the 1960s and 1970s, and transformed it into one of the leading programs in the nation.”

Conrgatulations to all four esteemed faculty members. We wish you the best in your next endeavors.

-Adrienne Frank, originally published in American Weekly

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