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A commemor ative edition honoring Retiring university president Richard davenport

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LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS

Dr. Davenport a man of vision, determination, creativity - and a sweet tooth

SCOTT R. OLSON PRESIDENT, WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY Elsewhere I’ve said that Richard Davenport was the most fun boss I ever had, that he was a great mentor to me, and that I can never repay him for everything he has done for me. He is widely beloved by fellow presidents, values shared governance, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has a big heart and his sweet tooth.

An untold part of the story might be the drive that led to the motto that characterized the Davenport era: “Big Ideas, Real World Thinking.” Dr. Davenport knew from the day

he arrived at MSU that it was destined for greatness. He had just come from Michigan.

In Michigan, there was the University of Michigan, of course, but there was also Michigan State. Minnesota had the University of Minnesota, but no institution here served that other niche.

Yet right there in the name of his new home were the two words he needed: “Minnesota State.”

So, he set off on a journey to rebrand MSU Mankato as something unique. At first he called it “the Modern

University,” and while we all knew what he meant – state of the art pedagogy, high tech, responsiveness to local and state needs – this internally-focused phrase didn’t always resonate with prospective students and the businesses that would hire the graduates. He began a quest to pin it down, to name it: that magic ephemeral quality that was both true of MSU while also being aspirational and externally appealing.

What differentiates the university in Mankato from other universities in Midwest?

For Richard Davenport, it was boldness, confidence, and scale. It was the courage to be Big, and to have Big Ideas.

And what differentiates Iowa State from Iowa, or Michigan State from Michigan? Big “Research 1” universities can sometimes have their head in the clouds, focused on esoterica.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a different niche. For Richard Davenport, being the school called “State” meant having the ability to be down to earth, the ability to solve the actual problems that real people encountered, the ability to make the world better in practical, tangible ways.

He hired a very talented marketing firm and there were a lot of meetings and many

Photo courtesy of Scott R. Olson

focus groups. Dr. Davenport was always resolute, fixed like a noble sea captain with his eyes on the destination, and while this or that tempest strove to drive us off course he kept us true to the destination.

That magical phrase – “Big Ideas, Real World Thinking” -- eventually emerged through his vision, his determination, and his creativity. He was the sculptor. Somewhere in that big block of marble was the statue of David hiding all along, and like Michelangelo, Davenport chiseled away bits of stone, piece by piece, until truth and beauty emerged.

And look what’s happened since!

Minnesota State

University, Mankato has become the very institution he envisioned from the get-go.

It never would have arrived where it is were he not the captain of the ship or the man with the chisel. I’m proud to have been a member of his crew for a little while, helping that destiny to be fulfilled.

Scott R. Olson President Winona State University Provost under Richard Davenport, 2003-2012

Thank You and Congratulations on Your Retirement Dr. Davenport!

Photo courtesy of Scott R. Olson

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A fond memory of a great President In December of 2010, I was Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and looking forward to presiding with President Davenport at Commencement—my first as Acting VP. I was a little nervous and glad there would be two ceremonies so I could work out my nerves during the first and fully enjoy the second.

President Davenport had been on an extended trip to China, traveling and building relationships on behalf of the University. He was scheduled to return the evening before the Commencement ceremonies.

Even though he would certainly be experiencing jet lag from the long trip, everyone understood that he would not think of missing Commencement. He had scheduled his trip to ensure he was back on campus in time.

But the night before Commencement, Mankato was hit with the worst snow storm I can recall during my 17 years there. The snow was so deep that I was afraid I wouldn’t make it to campus for the morning ceremony.

Despite the storm, we made the decision to go ahead with the ceremonies, figuring most graduates and their families were already in town and close to campus.

Meanwhile, President Davenport had made it as far as Chicago, where his flight to Minneapolis had been cancelled due to the storm.

In fact, both the Chicago airport and the Minneapolis airport were completely closed down. Anyone else would have decided to stay put until the storm had passed.

But President Davenport was determined to get back to Mankato in time for the ceremonies. He rented a car and drove through the night from Chicago to Mankato.

Of course, it took him much longer than normal and he was absolutely exhausted when he finally arrived. He pulled in to Mankato just as the morning ceremony was starting and collapsed into bed. Not only did I preside over my first Commencement as Acting VP, I had to fill in for the President!

After a few hours of sleep, President Davenport arrived on campus for the second ceremony. I remember being amazed that he showed no signs of fatigue. In fact, he was as engaged as ever in celebrating and congratulating our newest graduates.

So many times during my own presidency I’ve found myself asking, “What would Richard Davenport do?”

Whenever I’m exhausted by the demands of the job, I remember the Commencement ceremonies of December 2010 and do my best to emulate his dedication and enthusiasm.

Anne Blackhurst President Minnesota State University Moorhead

ANNE BLACKHURST, PRESIDENT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

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This story originally published in the MSU Reporter, July 10, 2002

Reception welcomes Davenport to MSU Gunnar Olson MSU Reporter Richard Davenport shook many hands in front of the Performing Arts Center Monday, a frequent gesture from the well-dressed man who a week earlier became Minnesota State University’s president.

Davenport only stepped away from the line of greeters at the Marso-Schmitz Plaza to address the whole group there for his welcome ceremony. From an MSU podium he quickly said his welcomes and thank-yous — then summed up what he’s been trying to do since July 1.

“I’ve been asked many times, ‘What is your vision for the university?’” Davenport said. “I can tell you a lot of things right now, but quite honestly, I think the most important thing for me to do as the new president of Minnesota State University is to really get to learn the community.”

“Community,” he added,

meant both the university community and the Mankato community as a whole.

Davenport’s brief speech reiterated the messages he sent in February, when he was applying for the position.

The first of four applicants to visit campus, Davenport came to Mankato from Mount Pleasant, Mich., where he was provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Central Michigan University.

Originally from Winona, Minn., Davenport majored in speech and hearing disorders at the University of Nebraska, Kearney, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1967. He got a master’s in speech and hearing disorders two years later from Colorado State University.

And in 1977 he earned a doctorate in higher-education administration from Iowa State University.

Facing a roomful of students in February, as reported by the Reporter, Davenport said: “As president, I would take a real team approach

because it’s important for students and faculty at an institution to work closely together.”

At Monday’s gathering of faculty, staff and a smattering of students, his words were almost the same: “Together we will work to formulate the goals and strategies of the institution.”

But between his “as president I would” in February and his “together we will” on Monday, Davenport took some criticism from the press.

Davenport had told the MSU community that MSU was the only university he was interested in. Yet according to a student publication at CMU, where Davenport worked at the time, he applied for chancellor at Indiana University South Bend and is quoted: “It’s a great institution.” In a later article in the same publication, Central Michigan LIFE, he said he was “looking into” four other universities.

But the way people at CMU talk of him, it sounds

as though he wasn’t trying to deceive anyone, rather just checking out his options.

Mike Owen, associate dean of CMU, said Davenport’s known at CMU for honesty, integrity and approachability.

On Monday, though, he carried himself as though the issue was never raised, shaking hands and meeting people for nearly the entire two-hour event.

“I just want to say, if you see me wandering around campus — don’t get an anxiety attack or anything like that,” he said during his speech, beside him a sign-language interpreter leaning back and acting freaked out.

“I’m just trying to feel my way around.”

The faculty and staff in International Relations, Political Science and Urban and Regional Studies in the Department of Government send Dr. Davenport their thanks and good wishes for a happy retirement!

Department of Government

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This story originally published in TODAY Magazine, Fall 2002

Visions, Actions, Engines What drives MSU’s new president?

Carey Martin McLaughlin MAT ‘97 A sunny Saturday in early June, a day that finally felt like summer, had arrived. The search was over-the national search for the twelfth president of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Richard Davenport had arrived at Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska, Minnesota, sixty miles north of campus.

Between house-hunting appointments Friday and Sunday in Mankato, Davenport had stopped Saturday morning in Chaska to officially meet and greet members of the MSU Foundation Board during their annual spring retreat. A few weeks earlier, at Central Michigan University where he had served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs for twelve years, Davenport had received a farewell gift of bookends specially crafted by geology faculty from rocks known as banded iron formation-because Michigan and Minnesota, the inscription pointed out, “share the distinction of being the major producers of iron ore in the United States.” The gift had delighted Davenport. He liked the idea of the link between Michigan and Minnesota, his present and his future.

Now, the transition was underway.

As MSU Foundation Board members broke from morning meetings, the conference room doors swung open.

Dozens of alumni and friends filed in

to join the session, taking side seats and standing behind the conference tables. MSU had invited several of the thousands of Twin Cities-area alumni and friends to Chaska for a sneak peek at the next leader of the second largest institution in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

What they got, first, was the chance to mingle with a man who looked them in the eye, remembered their names, spoke softly but with intention, and made them feel like he was really, truly glad to know them. Davenport mixed easily in and out of conversation circles. Mostly, he listened, taking in what others had to say. Weeks in advance he’d asked University staff to prepare background information on each of the guests-names, professions, graduation years, interests. Now, Davenport shook hands and matched faces to names and facts. The guests settled down to listen to his remarks knowing a few things for sure: They felt good. They felt proud. And they liked this leader.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill — good! It gives me a much bigger challenge.”

What mainly attracted Davenport to MSU, he says, was its national reputation, its student population, “highly sophisticated initiatives” for the cam-

Congratulations and Best Wishes from the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services!

pus and external communities, and its overall remarkable potential for further growth and development. He commends former President Richard R. Rush for the University’s numerous accomplishments under his leadership, and praises Senior Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs Karen Boubel for her leadership and productivity while serving as interim president in 2001-2002. Davenport says he was impressed with the continued development of the campus master plan by the facilities management department and campus leaders during the past year. He’s also looking forward to developing a strong working relationship with Chancellor James H. McCormick and his staff at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System office, with hopes of enhancing MSU’s image and increasing support for MSU. Davenport also found personal significance in MSU-the institution he chose to lead after interviewing with other schools including the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Indiana University Southeast, Bridgewater State College, and the University of Arkansas, and turning down other presidential offers. Davenport says he instantly recognized the fit he had in MSU thanks in part to his earlier experiences in Minnesota. The Land of 10,000 Lakes happened to be the site of his fondest childhood memory-fishing with his grandfather in Worthington,

where he caught his first Northern.

(One of eleven children whose mother died when Davenport was eight, he spent a great deal of his childhood at his grandparents’ Worthington home.)

And even after twelve years of living in Michigan, Davenport says his family maintained their strong allegiance to Minnesota sports and couldn’t allow themselves to cheer for the Detroit Lions, Pistons, or other Michigan professional teams. As he told The Free Press, “We’re Vikings fans and always have been.” He also jokes that the number twelve was a cue. When Dav-

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Congratulations and best wishes on your next adventure!

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT!

- Division of Student Affairs

Friday, May 7, 2021

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enport was twelve years old, he decided he wanted to be a college professor after spending time on the University of Nebraska campus with his brother-in-law, who was a graduate assistant at the time. Twelve years later, at twenty-four, he assumed his first faculty job at Iowa State University. And he had a twelve-year career at CMU before becoming the twelfth president of MSU. Kidding aside, Davenport looked at the MSU community and saw a place where his concept of “the modern university”-and his vision for how to lead one-could improve the quality and reputation of an already strong institution. Personally, the position felt right. Professionally, he recognized an environment where he could do what he does best: establish partnerships, promote shared governance, focus on students and raise academic expectations. “It is my goal to work with others and to energize everyone so we can make things happen,” he says.

“To be successful, one needs to be artful at solicitation and cultivation of internal and external constituencies to support the mission and priorities of the institution.”

When he addressed the MSU Foundation Board of Directors, Davenport said there “isn’t a college that doesn’t have issues.” He believes in the possibility of accomplishing greater goals

through shared governance-which, at MSU, means five separate unions, each with distinctive bargaining processes.

Davenport has experience in this kind of environment, and he knows what it takes to make it work. He says shared governance is only productive if university administrators clearly define roles for the decision-making process and develop a positive and inclusive environment that helps instill a sense of community. “Everyone is important and needs to genuinely feel as if their involvement matters,” Davenport says.

Davenport also has a reputation for building bridges to the private sector.

Prior to coming to MSU, he developed agreements with companies including Northwest Airlines, Marriott International, Dow Chemical Company, China Daily News, and Ford Motor Company. For example, he was instrumental in bringing faculty together with automotive design leaders to develop a vehicle design degree that has been touted as one of the most innovative of its kind and is the only one that exists in the United States.

During Davenport’s tenure as provost at CMU, he worked with faculty in developing five new doctoral programs, 25 master’s programs and 20 undergraduate programs approved at the state level. He has a keen sense and understanding for market-oriented programs balanced with a strong commitment to liberal education. Davenport notes that today’s employers want to hire graduates who can think critically, communicate effectively, adapt to

the changing environment readily, be engaged in civic matters and bring a strong sense of values and work ethics to the job.

Davenport says the goal of raising academic expectations is important in K-12 and higher education today.

“You can’t simply raise entrance requirements and expect that more qualified students will naturally have higher learning expectations. We need to challenge our students and faculty to set the bar higher for learning and raise classroom standards for excellence,” he says.

“Grade inflation has been on the rise during the past two decades and needs to be addressed. Therefore, the bigger challenge is raising the bar once students are in the door. It’s about uniting faculty in the goal of increasing what’s expected of students once they’re on campus, as well as being accountable for learning outcomes measured by various student assessment strategies. We must improve our graduation and retention rates and recruit a more highly diverse population of students.”

“I equate quality with excellence.”

At CMU, Davenport helped improve retention rates by 10 percent and increased enrollment by 3,000 students over a four-year period through a variety of initiatives. The effort involved the entire campus coming together to revitalize existing programs, student services, study skills courses, advising services and two unique freshman programs. It also

included development of the Summer Safari, an optional two-week intensive course where incoming students learn basic study skills and are encouraged to join a campus organization and participate in the Leadership Institute.

In 2002-2003, one-third of 3,600 incoming freshmen signed up for the Institute. Participants will receive a certificate of completion in addition to their four-year degree. CMU students also have the opportunity to develop an activities transcript, an official document that accompanies the academic transcript and lists campus events attended, organizational participation, and volunteerism. These initiatives demonstrate an interest in the individual student and supplement classroom learning through enriching experiences. Davenport says activities like these helped energize the CMU campus.

“I want people to feel energized.

For me, it’s natural.”

Besides striving to succeed in his career, Davenport wants others to enjoy and excel in their pursuits. He is a firm believer in “authentic positive reinforcement” and knows the importance of recognizing the accomplishments of others in a manner that is truthful and unreserved. He’s not afraid to give credit where it’s due.

That includes cheering on his wife, Sharlene, and their two children-Natalie, 30, and Ryan, 26. Sharlene, who

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The faculty and staff of the Criminal Justice, Corrections and Law Enforcement programs in the new Department of Criminal Justice send Dr. Davenport their thanks and good wishes for a happy retirement!

Department of Criminal Justice

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continued from 7 he started dating as a high school senior in Grand Island, Nebraska, has “sacrificed for me and our family,” he proudly says. He’s also proud of their daughter, Natalie, an anthropologist currently working at a resort and doing archeological work in Lake Tahoe.

She “lives to ski” and considers Minnesota her home, having attended public school in Winona. He counts his son, Ryan, among his heroes for his survival of a kidney transplant and two kidney rejections. Davenport says Ryan doesn’t look back and doesn’t falter, and thrives on new experiences. He’s currently completing a graduate degree in anthropology, and has traveled to remote parts of the world to study and practice. Davenport says Ryan has been an excellent role model for other transplant recipients.

One of Davenport’s own role models, his father, encouraged him to work hard and make his way in the world.

When he learned of Davenport’s plans to earn his degree, he asked, “Why would you want to leave a job with benefits and go to college?” At the time, the teenage Davenport was an assistant manager at a local grocery store. Despite his father’s advice, Davenport began college in 1967 and by 1977 had earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, Kearney, a master’s degree in speech and hearing science from Colorado State University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Iowa State University.

He works hard as a habit, but Davenport knows how to balance his professional pursuits with relaxation.

Once he’s settled in Mankato, Davenport hopes to resume his longtime involvement in buying and restoring antique cars. The Model A Roadster is his favorite vintage. He bought his first Model A after he spotted one parked in a field and fell in love with its look. Davenport drove up to the owner’s house and struck a deal: $150 plus a way to haul it off the property. He showed up later with a trailer, took the Model A back home, and was surprised to find that it still ran.

However, he began rebuilding its engine with the help of a faculty friend in St. Cloud who walked him through the rebuilding process over the phone, piece by piece. He finished the job, only to find that he’d installed one part incorrectly and had to re-do the job. “Re-do” he did, without missing a beat, and Davenport was hooked.

“I’m somewhat of a builder of things, people, reputations. . .I have always surrounded myself with the best. I hire people who are better than me in their fields and I’m not afraid to acknowledge them.”

Davenport believes in “involving people right from the beginning,” and plans to balance his own ideas with input from others. MSU, he says, “doesn’t need fixing,” so he’s free to build on an already-strong foundation. He believes leadership entails involving others to help set the course, establishing clear expectations, and then providing a working environment where everyone can do their job and feel a part of the overall strategic plan. He says he intends to form a strong team of professionals to assist him in leading the institution. Micro management is not a concept Davenport promotes-he says it undermines professional growth and job satisfac-

tion. He says the best ideas come from a group, and if people are excluded, “we are missing valuable input.” With a team in place, ready with an “all frontal attack,” Davenport plans to focus on enhancing and further developing MSU’s internal and external reputation as a university on the move.

“I believe an educational leader must be able to articulate a vision, inspire and encourage others to support that vision, and transform it into a reality through decisive action.”

Like any great educator and topnotch leader, Davenport is concerned with outcomes. From his role as a full professor in Winona, Minnesota to serving as the dean of a graduate school in Colorado to residing as second in command to the president at CMU, he’s focused on outcomes and held himself to high standards.

But as Davenport transferred himself out of Michigan and into MSU, he hesitated to disclose any specific ideas about his plans for his first year. He understands the necessity of hearing each voice and making change only when the time is right. As he gets to know the campus and community, Davenport will work with his administrative cabinet and campus leaders to define three to five short-term goals that will become the focus of his administration. There are two things he does plan to do early in his presidency: seek new funding sources, and develop a plan to help MSU become more visible to the rest of Minnesota, the region, and hopefully, the nation.

In the sunny conference room in Chaska, Davenport ended his halfhour remarks by opening the floor for alumni and friends to explain their goals for MSU’s future. Sandy Hey ‘68 commented on a need to improve

the public ‘s perception of the kind of quality education students receive at MSU. Patricia Lloyd said she’d like to see relationships developed between the University and communities within southern Minnesota and Mankato itself. Starr Kirklin told Davenport that MSU is one of Minnesota’s “best kept secrets,” and that he’d like Davenport to let that secret out-to “tell the story.” Davenport listened closely to the Board members, alumni, and friends, and indicated that his vision and theirs were already aligned.

That evening, in slightly more casual clothes and feeling like old friends, a core group of MSU Foundation Board members and guests gathered in Oak Ridge’s glass-walled, sunken dining area for dinner and entertainment. Students from the MSU Department of Theatre and Dance performed selections from Camelot, and Davenport smiled and joked back and forth with Department Chair Paul Hustoles who introduced each song with a special dedication to MSU’s new leader.

The next morning, in the same bright dining area, Davenport joined the group for breakfast before heading back to Mankato to resume his house-hunt. In just a month, his iron ore bookends would grace the Office of the President-yet he’d already seen more than 30 houses and not yet found the right one. But nobody was anxious, certainly not Davenport.

Like his beloved Model A and his new University, the right house would turn up-and he’d know it when he saw it.

Carey Martin McLaughlin is a writer and teacher. She is a regular contributor to TODAY.

109 Homestead Road Mankato, MN 56001 P: 507.387.8281

Enjoy your retirement!

May 6, 2021 Dear Dr. Davenport, Minnesota State University, Mankato has been an important partner throughout the 48-year history of the Harry Meyering Center. During your 19-year tenure as President we have had the privilege of working with countless MSU students as employees and volunteers who make a difference in the lives of the people we support.

Thank you for your dedication to preparing students for their life-long careers. Many of your students play a large part in ensuring the people we support are provided the ability to focus on independence and foster community connections.

We wish you all the best in the next chapter in your life!

FROM

507-386-8463 1712 Commerce Drive • North Mankato

Sincerely, Harry Meyering Center HarryMeyeringCenter.org

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This story originally published in TODAY Magazine, Spring 2004

The Next Chapter Memorable quotes from Dr. Davenport’s inaugural address - October 2003 “It’s uplifting for me to step our of my car in the morning and move through throngs of students who always seem to be hurrying somewhere. I wonder if they ever stop and think about this moment in time. I want to encourage today’s students to step back and realize that before long this moment will be gone forever and will live only in your memory. It is important for you to savor and appreciate these important formative years for what they are. Appreciate the impact these years of study will have on your entire future. Like most things in life that are worthwhile, it is important to not let this opportunity pass you by..”

“I believe a modern university is dynamic. It must constantly adapt to the changing needs of the world around it and absorb the explosion of knowledge and other influences impacting it.

It must be representative of the cultures and diversity that exist in the world. The modern university is connected to its many publics. It cannon remain insulated from the world in which it exists. Social, human and economic problems need to be addressed. Universities have the talent and ability to contribute in meaningful ways.”

Thank you for helping move MSU forward for future generations!

President Davenport, The campus prospered under your leadership. 19 years seems like a long time as captain of this boat, but you had people ready and willing to plug the leaks the few times they occurred.

Thanks for your commitment through the years.

- David Cowan, Rowboat Oarsman

Mark Piepho County Commissioner, District 3

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LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS

Davenport efforts take graduates ‘further than they thought possible’ President Davenport has had a significant, lasting impact on the university, the community, and the state. Because of his leadership, we have increased our presence and recognition across the state and region.

His leadership helped us not only advance the expertise and ingenuity of faculty, staff, and students but also to improve the physical atmosphere of the campus. President Davenport readily embraced challenges and pushed everyone to do more than they may have thought was possible.

Because of his efforts, we have Iron Range engineering and nursing programs, we have a presence in the Twin Cities, we have a Commission on the Status of Women and a Commission on Diversity, we have a thriving international student population, and we have many graduates who, because of their time at Minnesota State Mankato, have “gone further than they thought possible by combining knowledge and passion to achieve great things.”

JEAN HAAR, DEAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO

Thank you, President Davenport.

Congratulations and Best Wishes on your Retirement President Davenport!

Thank you for remembering, and helping us out amidst a pandemic!

We wish you all the best, Dr. Davenport!

University Security

Dr. Tanvir Ahmad and family

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Nobody rocks the purple & gold like you do!

Steve Woit Photography

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES THANKS DR. DAVENPORT FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY AND FOR HIS SUPPORT OF CAMPUS HEALTH!

Thanks for the memories!

- Tim & Bonnie Berg

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HATS OFF TO PRESIDENT DAVENPORT FROM THE SCHOOL OF NURSING FACULTY AND STAFF! Some of the School of Nursing milestones under your tenure include: establishment of the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society, construction of the Clinical Sciences Building which houses the Maverick Family Nursing Simulation Center, the launch of graduate nursing education in the Twin Cities at 7700 France Ave. S. in Edina, the first doctoral degrees conferred at MSU were Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees (!) in 2009, development of the RN-to-Baccalaureate degree completion program now one of four fully online programs at MSU, implementation of MSU nursing on the Iron Range, opening a nurse run community based clinic at the Health Commons at Pond in Bloomington, and enrollment growth in all programs!

All nursing programs enrollment when you started in 2002: ~300.

All nursing programs enrollment as you retire: 739!

Please accept our gratitude and appreciation of your leadership at MSU. As you look to the future, just think, it's preferment, not retirement!

You now get to do the things you prefer to do. We wish you the best!

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LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS

Davenport a man of vision, supporter of all students It has been my great pleasure to serve the College of Allied Health and Nursing during these last 10 years of President Davenport’s time at MSU, Mankato. As a proud alumna of MSU, Mankato, I was thrilled to come home after more than 40 years after graduating!

President Davenport and I are of the same academic discipline, communication sciences and disorders, and we connected on that discipline from the beginning of my service here. But most the most important connection came on my second day on campus.

President Davenport called me and the interim provost into his office and announced that he needed us to get a bonding bill passed through the legislature to fund a new campus building and then get that building built! I was thrilled until I found out that the bonding bill had been proposed 4 times over the previous 12 years. But we took on that challenge and President Davenport and I presented to legislative groups numerous times over my first 2 years. And the bonding bill was funded in 2014.

Planning was initiated immediately involving faculty and students within the college. In January 2017, we opened the doors to the Clinical Sciences Building. And last week, we won a state-wide award for the best state-funded classroom/lab building!

President Davenport has been a great mentor during my ten years here. I have so appreciated his vision and support for our students. He is so student-focused and has championed so many initiatives that have supported student over his time here. We are where we are in the MinnState System and the region because of his leadership. I so appreciate having served during his extraordinary time at the helm of MSU, Mankato!

PRESIDENT DAVENPORT Congratulations on your retirement!

It's been an honor and privilege to work for you.

Enjoy the next chapter in your life!

Juanita

KRISTINE RETHERFORD, DEAN COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH & NURSING MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO

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LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS

Listen to those who see your strengths before you do As an academic leader and a human being, President Davenport is one of the finest. He encourages strategic thinking, innovation and action. He is ethical and community minded.

He promotes diversity, equity and inclusion. He engages in communication for understanding. He pursues actions leading to student success for all students. And, he focuses on developing others. It is this last one that resonates in my mind as I consider President Davenport’s legacy to the university, and the students, faculty, staff, and community he has served.

First let me say that I believe education is transformative and can positively change the trajectory of an individual’s life. Education is far reaching, impacting our global society and our daily lives, supporting our democracy, workforce, knowledge production and innovation. It helps us understand one another.

Education is all about people.

As a first-generation college student and the eldest of 5 siblings, higher education was not often discussed at the dinner table when I was growing up. I found encouragement to pursue higher education elsewhere, begin-

ning with my elementary, and later high school teachers. As I trekked deeper into my educational journey, my college professors, professional mentors, and supervisors prompted me to consider next steps, and imagine other possibilities to further my career. Looking back, each of these individuals seemed to know, often before I did, that there was a different path I should pursue - something more that I should consider.

Take a minute and consider the people who have most influenced your life. Make a list of the top five.

Most people will have family members and friends, but also, teachers, coaches, advisors, music and theatre directors, professors, and other educators. I have a university president on my list - and you might too.

Sometimes, it takes someone to say, “this is something you might consider…” to spur real action and change in our lives, propelling us down a path that we may have never originally imagined for ourselves.

President Davenport has done that for me, which has had tremendous impact on my professional trajectory and my personal life. He has encouraged many, many people throughout

his tenure in higher education. I wonder at the number of lives he has impacted directly and intentionally.

As something we might all take from President Davenport’s approach to developing and supporting others, I encourage you to watch for those people who recognize your strengths before you do; listen to them and take a chance. And, more importantly, be that person who sees strengths in others and let them know you believe in them, that you know they can do it. The impact of such action can be life changing, I have witnessed it.

Thank you, President Davenport, for your leadership, your mentorship, your support and encouragement, and for your friendship to many….

I wish you joy in your retirement knowing you positively contributed to the lives of so many making it onto hundreds of “top 5” lists.

Teri Wallace, Interim Associate Vice President and Dean of Extended Campus

TERI WALLACE INTERIM ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT & DEAN OF EXTENDED CAMPUS

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President Davenport Retirement Issue

MSU Reporter • 19

Davenport: what came before, what happened during, and what’s next Maxwell Mayleben MSU Reporter Editor in Chief

Dr. Richard Davenport’s time as the president of Minnesota State University, Mankato is coming to a close this summer, with the newly chosen Dr. Edward Inch set to take his place.

As the final chapter in higher education comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the story of Davenport’s journey to becoming president, and what he has done during his time here.

At a young age, growing up in Nebraska, Davenport’s mother passed away from cancer. In this time he spent summers with different aunts and uncles.

In one of these summers, he was sent to live with his sister and her husband in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Davenport’s sister would often send him along with her husband, a graduate student studying astrophysics, who was also teaching at the uni-

versity at that time.

“Every day, I would go with him and follow him to each of his classes.” said Davenport, reflecting on his summer with his sister, “and that’s what influenced me to go into higher ed.”

After graduating high school, Davenport took a year off from school and worked at a grocery store to be able to afford his first year at college.

Davenport then attended the University of Nebraska Kearney, which was at that time named Kearney State College, where he received a degree in speech and hearing disorders.

“When I was a student, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I felt very privileged to be there,” said Davenport.

After receiving his Masters degree from Colorado State University, Davenport went on to spend a year working in a public school system.

“After one year in the public schools, I thought to myself, ‘Gee, I would really

ARCHIVE PHOTO | MSU Reporter

rather be in a different environment.”

In a very irregular series of events, Davenport was then hired as a tenure track assis-

WHAT’S NEXT continued on 19

20 • MSU Reporter

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tant professor at Iowa State University to help build a new speech and hearing disorders undergraduate program, after one year, and having no PhD. “I never understood until then, how hard professors work” said Davenport “As a student, you are sitting there and taking it all in, but those professors spend a lot of time screening that information.

It’s a lot of work.”

Davenport, having had moved into a house in a neighborhood heavily populated with higher up university staff, began to ask for advice on a career in higher education.

“Here I am, just a young inexperienced assistant professor and I am meeting with the president of the University and a dean of one of the big colleges” said Davenport, expressing his fortuitous living situation.

After many conversations with the president of Iowa State, Davenport began to ask for specific advice on how to become the president of a university.

“The advice he gave was this, ‘Richard, there is no shortcut,’” Davenport said, talking about the sometimes

FAREWELL grueling process of becoming a university president. “It’s a long process, little did I know how long it was going to take.”

Little did he know, the journey from assistant professor to president would take him over 20 years to accomplish.

During those years, Davenport worked in various universities such as Central Michigan University as provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs, Western State College of Colorado as dean of the graduate school and associate vice president for academic affairs.

These positions, among more professor positions prior to these, landed him in the position to apply for presidency at a large land grant school such as Iowa State.

Then, in the early 2000s, when the president position at MNSU opened up, Davenport was swayed to apply by former beloved president of the university, Dick Rush.

Davenport recalls the former president pitching the position to him, saying that Rush said, “There is nothing there that you have to fix.

You can go in there and really make a difference.”

So Davenport applied, and after an intense interview pro-

cess, was chosen to become the president of the university, effective on July 1, 2002.

Davenport stated that local millionaire and strong supporter, Glenn Taylor, was involved in the interview process.

During his interview, Taylor reportedly asked the question “Do you know anything about the business world?”

Davenport, having had worked closely with creating partnerships in his past positions, answered the question with ease. Taylor then supposedly looked to the chancellor and said, “I think we can stop the search now.”

The newly chosen president of Minnesota State University, Mankato came loaded for bear with new goals and aspirations for the campus.

At the time, MNSU was not the largest university within the Minnesota State system.

So, Davenport, with goals of changing that, came up with factors that he wanted to improve at the University level.

“Beautification of the campus, changing the student enrollment population, and trying to add diversity in faculty ranks in recruiting faculty that wanted to do research,” said Davenport.

Davenport realized that a

Friday, May 7, 2021

Steve Woit Photography

Thank You President Davenport!

Thank you for supporting students living in the Crawford, McElroy, Julia Sears, Preska and Stadium Heights Residence Communities! Enjoy your retirement!

www.mnsu.edu/reslife

Friday, May 7, 2021

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main way for students to gain real experience is by being plugged directly into the real world via partnerships.

These partnerships were aimed at being advantageous for as many programs as possible, and included, but aren’t limited to the business world, the allied health world, airlines, civil engineering firms and more.

“I think it provides opportunities to our students and professors to really gain that real world experience.” said the president.

Another main goal for Davenport during his time at MNSU was to update and revamp the way that campus looked.

“For the students who want a medium sized campus that is modern in all respects, that is reflected in our campus” Davenport worked to increase the quality of the way the University’s campus looked in several ways.

He tore down the Gage Tower, which used to be a large dorm residency, and created new residence halls such as Julia Sears and Preska.

On top of that, Davenport worked to develop the Otto

President Davenport Retirement Issue Recreation Center, the new Clinical Science Building and the new Dining Center.

Extremely proud of the aesthetic upgrades to campus, Davenport said, “We have no doubt at all that we have the most beautiful campus of our type in the midwest”.

Another huge source of pride for the president is the increase in diversity on campus.

When he began as president at MNSU, within the student population, 3 percent of students were people of color or international students. Now, 19 years later, that number has been boosted to 24 percent.

With all of these efforts and more, MNSU has since become the flagship university in the Minnesota State system.

After 19 years, Davenport is ready to move into retirement.

“I am thrilled to pass the baton on” said Davenport, expressing his excitement for retirement.

On July 1, Davenport will effectively pass the presidency of MNSU to the incumbent Dr. Edward Inch.

“After you’ve been somewhere for 19 years, you want to make sure that the next person who comes in takes it to the next level,” said

MSU Reporter • 21

Davenport, referring to the transition to Inch.

“After the hours and hours that I have spent with him, I am confident that he will take the University to the next level.”

While the long time president aims to get out of the new leader’s way, he does leave with some words of advice.

“My advice to him was to understand the culture of the campus, because we are pretty unique, understand the pride that goes along with the academics, and to be a part of the community” In retirement, Davenport has spoken to his wife about purchasing an RV to travel the country and visit with his children who are living across the country.

“I’ll be keeping an eye on MNSU” said Davenport, “Although one of the things I’ve learned is to get the heck out of the way, let the new person come in and provide the leadership.”

President Richard Davenport, after exactly 50 years in higher education, 19 of which, service to Minnesota State University, Mankato, retires with a message of hope for those attending the university.

“The future, as dim as it

Steve Woit Photography

Thank you for your years of dedication to the University and support for the Aviation Program!

22 • MSU Reporter

FAREWELL

Friday, May 7, 2021

MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S

This story originally published in the MSU Reporter, November 14, 2006

Volunteers Do the Time, Minus the Crime Event promoted hunger awareness, raised money.

Kim Broback Assistant News Editor getting arrested rarely yields the type of benefits it did Monday.

This year was the first Jail ‘N’ Bail event held as part of Hunger Awareness Week at Minnesota State and total donations reached more than $1,900.

The event was run by the Campus Kitchen program and a group of marketing students at MSU. Students in Shane Bowyer’s three Principles of Marketing class formed 20 teams of eight to participate in hosting events like Jail ‘N’ Bail.

The event, held in the Centennial Student Union, asked for volunteers to go to “jail” and try to collect donations to post their bail.

According to Laura Gifford, a marketing student who played the role of judge, most inmates were sentenced to about 30 minutes and required different amounts of bail. Participants who could not post bail by the time they had to go to class were set free as well.

ARCHIVE PHOTOS | Kim Broback, MSU Reporter President Richard Davenport and Vice President of Academic Affairs Scott Olson were among those who volunteered to be arrested in Monday’s Jail ‘N’ Jail as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Campus Kitchen Program Coordinator Samantha Eckerson said items were also sold during the Jail ‘N’ Bail, including hunger facts T-shirts for $5 and cookbooks make of collections of

Best Wishes

President Davenport!

Way to hit a home run!

recipes from faculty, staff and students at MSU. “Our goal was $1,400, and we raised over $1,900,” Eckerson said. “It was very, very amazing. It was so much fun and the class loved it.

Everyone in jail was having a great time.”

Inmates were encouraged to call family, friends and anyone else they could think

of to ask for donations. The jail was equipped with a cell phone for each inmate, campus directories and a phonebook.

continued on 23

Thank You

for 19 Wonderful Years Celebrating Maverick Spirit!

Dean & Cheri Bowyer

- Homecoming Committee

Friday, May 7, 2021

Some signed up ahead of time, volunteering to be arrested and brought to jail

by Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Captain Richard Murry. Nhia Yang of Campus Security also helped out.

“We’ve never had anything like this,” Gifford said.

“The event was first done in a national level to raise money for cancer [foundations],” Eckerson said. “It was so successful for the American Cancer Society that we decided to try in here.”

Bowyer said students in his classes have also participated in hosting the Bowling for

President Davenport Retirement Issue

Beans event, where kids could bowl for free if they donated a canned food item. He said businesses have donated to the events, and the students sell them to raise money for the cause.

Faculty members go the event started, including head baseball coach Dean Bowyer, Vice President of Academic Affairs Scott Olson and MSU President Richard Davenport.

Staff members such as Ryan Schuh, assistant director of Printing Services, and Laurie Woodward, director of the CSU, also spent time in jail.

MSU Reporter • 23

Dr. Davenport - We appreciate everything you have done for the campus and our campus media over the last 19 years. We wish you many happy days in your retirement!

MSU Mankato Newspaper Board Rachel Hanel, Advisor Robb Murray Shirley Piepho Maria Kalyvaki

Olayinka Gbolahan Maxwell Mayleben Anna Lillie

CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS & FAREWELL DR. DAVENPORT!

We wish you more great moments in retirement!

Thank you for your support of KMSU! Enjoy your retirement!

PRESIDENT DAVENPORT!

Make Great Moments.

STORE HOURS: MONDAY SATURDAY 8AM-10PM SUNDAY 11AM-6PM

507-625-2420 BELLE MAR CENTER MANKATO, MN MGMWINEANDSPIRITS.COM

LARGE SELECTION! LOW PRICES! NEW ITEMS WEEKLY!

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FAREWELL

Friday, May 7, 2021

MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S

This story originally published in the MSU Reporter, June 18, 2014.

“Future Maverick” program devised to encourage academics Yuseong Jeon MSU Reporter Minnesota State University, Mankato and Riverland Community College established the partnership known as “Future Maverick” on June 6th, 2014. The new partnership program will be implemented this Fall. On that day, MSU President Richard Davenport and Riverland President Adenuga Atewologun officially announced the monumental program at the campus of Riverland.

The “Future Maverick” is a jointed educational program between MSU and Riverland, one of the institutions of the Minnesota State College and University system, which is located in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna, Minnesota.

Through the new program, students from Iowa who go to Riverland can also earn a bachelor’s degree from MSU, after having earned an associate’s degree from Riverland. This program provides dual degrees in both community college and the university after attending each school for two years.

The two educational institutions in Minnesota not only guarantee admission of Iowa high school students who meet the requirements of the program, MSU applies in-state tuition for the Iowa students in Riverland, when they finish their academics in Riverland for

two years and wish to attend MSU another two years for earning Bachelor’s degree.

The two presidents expect the beneficial outcomes not only for both schools, but also Iowa students and Minnesota communities.

“We are very pleased to announce this new collaboration with Riverland Community College,” said Davenport.

He stated that the “Future Maverick” partnership will provide diverse educational opportunities, including fulfilling two degrees for Iowa students. He continued with “We can reflect diverse perspectives of Iowa students into our Minnesota communities.”

Atewologun, the president of Riverland also said that he is expecting to have many talented students from Iowa who will receive a benefit from Riverland, which is famous for teaching, scholarships and other services.

More importantly, the two schools will also work together for recruiting talented people in northern Iowa, which is the part of the consent between the two schools. Atewologun mentioned that, “We will contribute to solving the problem of shortage of skilled workforce in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa through this program.”

Students who participate in the “Future Maverick” program will consult with academic advisors from both institutions to ensure their academic

CONGRATULATIONS

ON YOUR RETIREMENT DR. DAVENPORT!

THANK YOU AND FAREWELL!

President Davenport Thank you for your 19 years of leadership, commitment and inspiration! You'll be missed!

ARCHIVE PHOTO | MSU Reporter President Davenport holding Riverland polos in celebration of the recently established ‘Future Maverick’ program

plans meet degree requirements. The students also have to continue to meet academic progress requirements and each institution’s standard policies and procedures. Upon meeting their re-

quirements, they will be able to pursue their academic plans by receiving two degrees in the both schools.

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President Davenport Retirement Issue

MSU Reporter • 25

MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S

This story originally published in the MSU Reporter, March 14, 2019.

Sitting down with President Davenport Last month at the Verizon Center, the men’s hockey team got to showcase their latest bounty, the MacNaughton cup. In attendance at this event were fans, players and supporters of MSU hockey and athletic community.

Amongst others, it was great seeing the President and his wife, Mary Davenport looking dashing as always in their custom-made hockey jerseys.

Beaming with smiles so resplendent and the notable athletic and academic achievements accrued so far, it’s no wonder whether President Davenport is having a great year so far.

We wanted to know what’s been going on and what’s yet to come at MNSU. We asked him many questions ranging from his personal interests to the impact he would like to leave on the University. This is what he had to say; R: How do you spend your holidays?

D: Christmas – Like most people, the University is closed but I spent part of the time coming down here and taking a more casual approach to getting caught up on stuff and of course, the phone’s not ringing, nobody’s here and it’s a great time to kind of refresh

and get caught up. I have a son living in Chicago, so we travelled there to spend part of the holidays with him.

I read a couple of books and I just relaxed.

Valentines’ Day – Although I wouldn’t recommend it. I worked all day and then got to spend quality time with my wife on Friday. We got to view the snow moon. We love that stuff!

R: What are your thoughts on the city’s transitions in the GMG and Mayoral offices? How will it impact the University?

D: Under his [Jonathan Zierdt’s] leadership, the city has flourished. It’s really been outstanding. Jonathan’s work is hard to replace. He’s a super guy! He’s an inspiration to everybody and he needs to be widely applauded for the success that he has brought to our community.

The partnership with the University is very solid, we know the importance of the university to the city and we also know how important the city is to the university.

The new mayor Najwa replaces Eric

ARCHIVE PHOTOS Mansoor Ahmad, MSU Reporter

Anderson who was in that role for a period of time and he also was an outstanding leader and in the field and he really raised the important questions in terms of the direction the city is taking and got the city to focus on their the future. The replacement with a new mayor. I am also very encouraged with Najwa’s leadership.

She has served on many committees

and boards and I think she’ll bring a new vision to the city of Mankato and now as well. I think I can only look forward to a great leadership from her and the city and we will continue to promote the outstanding partnerships that we have.

SITTING DOWN continued on 26

Happy Trails, President Davenport!

With thanks for your many years of service, advocacy, and dedication (and chili)!

From the Minnesota State University, Mankato Faculty Association

26 • MSU Reporter

FAREWELL

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MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S | MSU R EP ORT E R A RCH I V E S

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R: Let’s talk about books and your day-to-day life. What books are you currently reading?

D: Well there’s two of them. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

It’s kind of a science or medically focused book about the status of modern medicine today and it is it’s really quite good. Although it doesn’t have a lot to do with the University; as a student, I thought I’d go into medical school, but I didn’t go and decided to do this. It keeps me abreast in the research developments in the area of medicine.

The second is a non-fiction book about James J Hill. He was what you’d call a railroad baron in Minnesota’s early days. He was able to allow the flour mills to flourish, which were a big part of the evolutionary development of the of Minnesota in general and farmers in ag to provide the transportation to move the products around the country.

As an avid reader, I read at least three newspapers everyday as I pour my cup of coffee; Wall Street Journal, Star Tribune, our local newspaper and a combination of online ones. If I don’t read the newspapers, I feel like I’m not starting the day right.

R: What are your goals for the University now that the sesquicentennial celebration is over, what are your goals for the University?

D: We have multiple set of goals and some of those goals that are rising to the top of the list certainly include what we call enrollment management.

Maybe with one or two exceptions,

we have students that enroll here from every state from all 50 states of the US, and we also have students that come here from 90+ countries. We have a lot of underrepresented students, students of color students that come from different backgrounds.

This has become kind of a destination for a very, very diverse campus.

One of our goals is to make certain that it stays as an attractive campus for students from all over the world.

That’s really a major goal.

R: What do you hope your legacy to be?

D: What I would like my legacy to be is creating the kind of global high-quality campus.

ARCHIVE PHOTOS Mansoor Ahmad, MSU Reporter

Our goal is to create a university where students, when they leave feel like they really made a good investment coming here and that they’re able to go forward with those big ideas and make a difference in the world whether it’s in the US or Minnesota or anywhere around the world.

Some of the other pieces that is kind of a big level goal for this year is to get our proposal for replacement of Armstrong Hall.

One of our major divisions in terms of campus facilities to plan this summer to open-up the mall going to Val Imm Dr. We want to modernize the area hopefully all goes well, so students can walk through and have a beautiful place to sit.

Making sure that we helpe more students to continue from year to year to year until they graduate. We want to sort of help the students that are leaving the campus for lots of reasons.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT, PRESIDENT DAVENPORT! Thank you for bringing your “Big Ideas, Real World Thinking” to the University for the past 19 years.

One of the biggest reasons was, they can’t afford to stay in school which we’re trying to address. How can we help them to stay in school and continue? The other issue is students leave for a lot of reasons and we were trying to tackle the problems.

For example, if you can’t get the classes you want you might leave if you can’t get into your major or personal family issues and so forth, but the areas that we really want an impact in is advising with our new advisory core. We really want to have a more personal relationship with our students and we’re asking our faculty to play an even bigger role in that as well as staff.

I really want to make a difference in and solidify a few things that will put the position for the university in a very positive position statewide to be the leader in higher education for state universities. We still have some work to do.

We have one of the most beautiful campuses one of the most modern campuses, but we’re also growing and here’s a challenge that I want to try and accomplish before I leave; that is, to continue to grow enrollment to stabilize the university and to retain students and to graduate more students than we currently do.

So that’s something you’re going to hear a lot more about them. I’m very excited about that because I I think we can do better than what we currently doing in terms of enrollment management or retention for enrollments.

FAREWELL

PRESIDENT DAVENPORT CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT!

"ARE YOU TAKING THE LOUNGE CHAIRS WITH YOU?"

Best wishes for many years of health, happiness and new adventures to come. ~ Sheri and Josh Sargent and family

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401 Poplar Street| Mankato, MN 56001 Big Ideas. Real-world thinking.

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President Davenport Retirement Issue

MSU Reporter • 27

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FAREWELL

Friday, May 7, 2021

THANK YOU

DR. DAVENPORT!

We were blessed to have a university president who understood the challenges of 21st century college students, and the Reporter was blessed with a university president who never shyed away from answering a question from the 19-years-worth of newswriters we sent your way.

We wish you the best of times as you embark upon your retirement!

Please know that we will always appreciate what you have done for the Reporter, the MSU campus community, the Minnesota State University System and the entire Mankato area!

From all of us at