New Director for Smithsonian

We learned yesterday that David Skorton has been selected to become the next director of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. You can read more by clicking here. This is especially interesting and exciting news to me, because I had the great privilege to work directly for David in three different capacities at The University of Iowa. From 1993 to 2000, I reported to him as the university's chief information officer; from 2000 to 2003, I reported to him as Associate Vice President for Research; and from 2003 to 2005, I served as his interim Vice President for Research when he became President of the university.

Working for David really was an extraordinary opportunity. As a mentor and colleague, he provided generous support and leadership, and he did these things by being the best possible model himself for what an administrator and leader of an institution should be. He was thoughtful, inspirational, and courageous. More than anyone else, he taught me the importance of listening, of shared governance and of one's critical responsibility to enable and celebrate the work that is done by all of those individuals who may report to you and who really do the work of the enterprise.

A little side story may further illustrate why I feel so much with regard to David Skorton. In 2001, during the time that he was Vice President for Research at the university and I reported as Associate Vice President, my father became quite ill and eventually passed away. I was with my family in Dad's hometown, about an hour away from Iowa City. We were hosting a visitation prior to the funeral the following day. Completely unexpected to me and in the long line of the many friends and family who came to express their condolences at my father's death, David appeared. This man, with his extraordinarily busy life at the university, took the time to travel some distance to pay his respects to my father and his family. I was more than a little humbled and honored by that, and to me, it illustrates much about the kind of man David is.

Like almost everyone else I know at the university, I was deeply disappointed to watch the politicization and failure of the Iowa Board of Regents to understand the treasure they had in having David as the university's leader and to support him in his work. Iowa lost much when David was chosen to become the President of Cornell University in 2006. That move and now the position at the Smithsonian prove how great that loss was for Iowa. Of course, for David, these opportunities to continue to be a force in higher education, the arts and humanities, and the sciences, could not be more deserved.

Near the end of our time working together, the following two photographs were taken. The first was taken by a university photographer while a number of us were beginning to assemble at the President's home for a reception to honor the achievements of certain faculty members. The photographer, unknown to us, captured a private conversation between David and me on the sunporch of the home. I do recall the content of that conversation, but that is unimportant. What I will always feel when viewing the photograph are these things: how privileged I was to be in David's presence and to work for him, how attentively he listened to the concerns of those of us who worked for him, and how good he was at helping us and supporting us in addressing those concerns and doing our jobs. In my heart of hearts, I always questioned why someone with my limited background should be so lucky as to have the opportunities and responsibilities given to me, but David always made me feel capable and productive, and for that I will always be grateful.

This second photograph was taken after the last meeting I attended while still serving as a member of David's senior staff. There are many good people in this picture, individuals for whom I also have great respect and admiration. Of course, David is at the center of the picture, and I hope you can see in the smiles of those present, the overall sense of comaraderie and the commitment to his leadership.

David, congratulations on your selection to the post at the Smithsonian, and thank you once again for the opportunities you gave me and for the happy times you made possible in my life.