After 31 years: Veath to retire

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Veath announced her retirement on Sept. 15 at an all-campus meeting. Her last day is at the end of academic year – June 30, 2012.

Dr. Lois Veath has dedicated 31 years of service to Chadron State College as a science faculty member, dean, and vice president of academic affairs.

Although she doesn’t work directly with students as academic vice president, she hasn’t become disconnected from the student body. In her office, which gleams with professionalism, she said that she never talks to people from behind her desk, which is a formidable piece of furniture. Instead, she talks with people at a conference table, which shows that Dr. Veath still works alongside faculty members and students, not just behind a desk.

Veath graduated from the University of Wyoming (UW) with a Ph. D. in physics in 1988. She worked as a research assistant at the University of California San Diego Medical School in the Department of Neurosciences. However, she was always interested in teaching, so she could spark students’ interest in science.

She compared studying science to being Sherlock Holmes. Her investigation led her to Chadron State College, where there was an opening in the science department.

Former students still contact her, through Facebook and in person. She said that when she goes out to dinner, students have approached her and told her how much they liked her classes.

Later, she became dean of the former School of Arts and Sciences.  Taking on the role of a dean was difficult until she had an epiphany. “Being a dean is a lot like being a parent,” she said in reference to helping colleagues resolve personal issues and professional differences.

“I really enjoyed being a dean and vice president, and working with new faculty members,” she said.

As she moved up at CSC and took on the role of academic vice president, she dealt with the change of being further separated from the students. The most rewarding aspect of her career at CSC has been working with students, which she referred to as a “huge privilege.”

“Young people are our greatest resource,” she said. However, working as the academic vice president was also rewarding for Veath.

“I’ve been very happy with the amazing things that have happened during my time as vice president,” she said.

One issue that she wishes could have been resolved differently is the budget cuts. She would have liked to have tightened the budget without cutting academic programs and laying off instructors, but that was not possible, Veath said. “I felt bad about the academic programs that were cut,” she said, mentioning the professors and students who were affected by this decision.

Veath has seen a lot of change during her three decades at CSC, from the number of female professors in the Math and Science Building to the model of education.

“For years I was the only woman in the Math and Science Building. Lots of women teach there now,” she said.

The old education model of “memorize and regurgitate” is being replaced with interactive learning models where students are actively involved in their own education. “Education has changed for the better,” she said.

A small statue of a family on the conference table in her office is evidence of the importance of family to Veath. She is looking forward to spending time with her grandchildren after she retires. “I waited a long time to be a grandmother,” she laughed. She and her husband will also spend time in Montana. She joked about having to split her time between the trout in Montana and her grandchildren in Nebraska.

Family is evidently important to Veath, who said that the loss of family, and colleagues, has inspired her to make the most of each day. “All you have is the present. Every person thought they would have another day.” She paused. “They didn’t.”

Veath dealt with changes in her transition from a faculty member to a dean and then to the academic vice president. Now with her upcoming retirement she will be making another transition.