Associate dean of students retires, replacement unknown

Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe isn’t exactly sure how his office will run after the loss of Associate Dean of Students Mike Owens.

“Mike would have more ideas in a week than I would have in a year,” he said. “There is no doubt that Mike will not be replaced. We will do things differently because he is not here.”

Owens retired quietly from Central Michigan University last week after serving CMU since 1971. He was associate dean of students since 1994.

Owens said in a letter to Roscoe that he wanted to leave the university without fanfare when he determined his duty was complete.

“I’ve always planned to depart quietly when my stay here was complete,” Owens wrote. “I hope you will forgive me for this short notice. I’ve been filled with gratitude for knowing you.”

Roscoe said the associate dean and director of Scholarships and Financial Aid positions, which Owens both manned, would be addressed in the coming weeks. No decision has been made in regards to filling the associate dean position or eliminating it.

“I would hope within the next few weeks. Everybody needs to know that so that there’s a certainty on what’s going on,” Roscoe said. “I want to talk to the provost and what his thoughts are, and go from there.”

Owens worked as a residence hall director when he first came to CMU. After serving as an RHD, he moved into admissions, where he eventually became director. He also worked as an executive assistant to the president under former university president Edward Jakubauskas.

He was instrumental in the creation of the Centralis scholarships and the Service Court in the lower level of the Bovee University Center, Roscoe said.

Roscoe said no one knew of Owens’ decision besides himself and Dean of Students Adminstrative Assistant Bernie Bland. Roscoe said he learned of Owens’ intent to retire in the middle of the spring semester.

He said although he has mixed feelings over Owens’ departure, he hopes he will enjoy retirement.

“My reaction was multiple. I am very happy for Mike and I wish him the very best. I shall miss him as a friend and colleague,” he said. “We worked closely for the last 15 years and it was a real privilege for me. He was a tremendous asset to the university.”

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