12 minute read
Bret + Kay: A Presidential Partnership
By Patrick Reed
In the fall of 2021, Bret and Kay Danilowicz walked along Main Street in Radford as unassuming, typical visitors to a new city.
What they were seeking was an honest glimpse into a place that offered a lifechanging opportunity.
Bret, a Ph.D. in zoology and career academic leader who was in his fourth year as provost at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and Kay, a speech pathologist, were in the late stages of realizing a shared long-term vision. They were considering a university presidential seat for Bret.
The couple’s plan was to go on a “secret shopper” tour of the city and region. To walk along Main Street. To visit Bisset Park. To feel the cool breeze of the New River, a contrast from the heat of south Florida. To indulge in the local cuisine. To make conversation with locals.
“We wanted to feel the vibe, walk the downtown area,” Kay said. “I always thought we’d be on the coast, being married to a marine biologist, but this was such an interesting place.”
“We knew this was a for-life move, right? And we don’t want to get it wrong,” Bret said. “So, we tested out the community first and found the people to be a lovely, lovely group.”
Now he and Kay have their place among the group.
A seven-month national search culminated with the selection of Dr. Bret Danilowicz (pronounced dan-ILL-oh-vitch), the eighth president in Radford University’s 113-year history. The Board of Visitors made the official announcement on Dec. 9, 2021.
As an administrator, instructor and researcher with more than 25 years of higher education experience in the United States and abroad, Bret was intentional about their ideal landing place.
He found his place at Radford University after serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs from 2018 through 2021 at Florida Atlantic University. Bret oversaw the academic division of an R2 research institution that included a population of
The Danilowicz family – from left, Bret, Kay, Teagan and Brynn – attends Homecoming.
In his time at FAU, Bret focused on maintaining relationships with students, faculty and staff. He hosted bi-weekly “Coffee with the Provost” sessions to create an open dialogue. At Radford University, he began the “Espresso Yourself” series this fall with a focus on inviting students to the table for discussion.
“I love people,” Bret said. “And I think I’m at my most effective when I can lead everyone to work closely together.”
Prior to arriving in south Florida, Bret was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, working as the chief academic and administrative officer for the college, part of an R1 land grant university. The college that Bret guided included over 6,000 students and more than 700 faculty and staff members. His
Durham, North Carolina emphasis was on transparency in the financial stewardship of the college, cross-campus partnerships with other colleges and diversity initiatives that included the formation of the Center for Sovereign Nations, a focal point for engagement and student support of indigenous populations in Oklahoma.
Before his time at Oklahoma State, Bret spent eight years at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, highlighted by four years as dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology. The seven years before that were spent at University College in Dublin, Ireland, where he served as associate dean and director of the environmental biology program.
A common thread at each of his academic stops has been commitment to teaching and student success. He held lecturer, associate professor and tenured professor positions while handling extensive administrative duties.
Bret’s academic career has been in service of his lifelong passion, marine biology.
“When I was a child, it was driven largely by Jacques Cousteau, who was on television as an underwater explorer,” Bret said.
“The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau,” a French import to American television beginning in the late 1960s, showed him the unseen depths of the world’s oceans. Summers for Bret and his family were spent on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, from sandy beaches in New Jersey to the rocky shores of Maine, where he explored the coastlines and carried a deep enthusiasm for the biological systems of the sea back to his childhood home in Utica, New York.
“I think I was about 10 years old when I decided what I wanted to do, after going through the early architect, astronaut, firefighter, policeman choices that kids make,” he said, laughing. “But it was all through television that I saw this world.”
Bret set to a field of study devoted to marine biology, beginning with a B.S. in biology from Utica College of Syracuse University (now Utica University) in his home state, and continuing with a Ph.D. in zoology from Duke University. Fellowships in marine biology at Duke and postdoctoral work at the Great Lakes Institute of the University of Windsor in Canada honed his expertise.
Research throughout his career ranged from study of the spawning of damselfish to analysis of Ireland’s oceanography during his time at University College.
His scholarship and leadership culminated in the arrival at an institution in Radford University that is keenly focused on maximizing the in-classroom experience.
“What I’ve learned is that we are a distinctive institution, we’re surrounded by this remarkable environment and we’re a very sustainable campus,” Bret said.
Since taking the helm at Radford University, the pursuit of his goals was not a solitary one. In addition to collaborating with talented faculty, staff, administrators and students to enhance the university, his plan was and is to lead alongside his wife of 29 years, Kay.
Kay Danilowicz assumed the role of first lady of Radford University. She works closely with Bret to help carry out his priorities and connect with communities both on the campus and in the city of Radford.
As it became apparent that a university presidency was possible for Bret, the couple decided that an opportunity like the one at Radford would be transformational in their relationship. The chance to collaborate in a presidency would allow them to become better aligned in their marriage and united in service to the community that they call home.
“I believe that he has the skills to make a real difference,” Kay said. “And that difference is going to be made here in Radford.
“I am hoping that I can help him to be that president that he has studied to be, a visionary that’s necessary at this point in higher education.”
The decision didn’t come easy for Kay. A native of Oahu, Hawaii, she
Inauguration Day
Radford University officially inaugurated Bret Danilowicz, Ph.D., as the eighth president in the 113-year history of the institution during a warm ceremony on a chilly Friday morning, Sept. 30, 2022, on the McConnell Library lawn.
“Whoever thought a skinny kid with glasses and a sunny disposition would turn into a president with glasses and sunny disposition?” the new president joked on a not-so-sunny but festive 51-degree day to the gathering of students, faculty, alumni, Board of Visitors members and other representatives of the Highlander family sitting between him and the fountain at the center of campus.
After taking the oath of office, Danilowicz expressed gratitude to the Radford University community, as well as his own family – his wife, Kay Danilowicz; their children, Torin, Brynn, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa, and a master’s in communication sciences and disorders from Wayne State University in Michigan. Kay then built her career as a speech pathologist in schools and preschool early intervention programs, later operating her own practice. At Oklahoma State and FAU, she served as a supervising clinician in the speech pathology departments at both institutions.
Beyond her career, Kay’s energy was focused inward – on their four children, on building a home and on being friends and members of a community. The “introvert” of the couple, Kay knew she would have to focus more of that energy outward and in lockstep with Bret.
“It’s very easy when you have a career and a family to forget the reason you got married in the first place,” she said.
To maximize their partnership and enhance their new home, Kay did what she does best – provide service to others. Specifically, through their trained therapy dog and family pet, Bainne.
Bainne (pronounced ban-ya), a 3-year-old boxer mix and one of the two Danilowicz dogs (along with Koda), has made weekly appearances from McConnell Library to the Dedmon Center and on the Radford University Carilion campus in Roanoke. Bainne is a part of the “Yappy Hour,” “Time to Paws” and “Pawsitively Coaching” events, designed to give Highlanders a chance to experience the resource that a therapy pet can provide.
“I think growing up in this day and age, with technology being at the forefront and doing things with speed, that it has become really important to focus on mental health because otherwise young people are going to struggle to stay focused and be successful,” Kay said.
It’s a component of the Radford University experience that the Danilowicz family is making permanent, following their leadership experience at Oklahoma State as part of the Pete’s Pet Posse program.
Teagan and Cullen; his parents, Ron and Lucy; and sister, Tanya.
On his 92nd day in office since taking the position on July 1, the president shared his goals for the university and provided insights into his personal themes of purpose, people, place and pride.
“We will build early and purposeful connections between learning and earning, degree and need, flexibility and career,” Danilowicz explained. “Radford University has the responsibility to help meet workforce needs while preparing graduates to be nimble for future employment opportunities and for global citizenship.”
Elevating the support, experiences and outcomes for students are pressing priorities for Radford University, Danilowicz said. As those priorities are achieved, he said, “we will generate more stories of pride with each passing year.”
And, “with that expansion of pride comes my confidence that this university, through its employees, alumni and community network, will move Radford University assertively into the next phase of higher education needed by this region, the Commonwealth of Virginia and this nation,” Danilowicz said, standing in front of McConnell Library, a building named for Radford’s first president.
Stepping into the role of president, Danilowicz follows past leaders Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., (2016-21), Penelope W. Kyle, J.D. (2005-16), H. Douglas Covington, Ph.D., (1995-2005), Donald Newton Dedmon, Ph.D., (1972-1994), Charles Knox Martin Jr., Ph.D., (1952-72), David W. Peters, Ph.D., (1938-1951) and John Preston McConnell, Ph.D. (1911-37).
“It was really helpful for student mental health and faculty and staff mental health,” Bret said.
Providing a resource like therapy dogs is one branch extended as part of the Danilowicz era at Radford University.
In charting a path forward, Bret will put his effort into several key areas, including clarity in branding and preparing students for success beyond Radford University.
“Although we are a distinctive place,” Bret said, “The question is, how do we brand ourselves to promote and celebrate our distinctiveness to people outside of the institution?”
After attracting a new population of Highlanders and giving them the tools to enhance their knowledge, Bret wants to ensure their potential is fulfilled with high-impact opportunities beyond the university.
“Having them understand that the experiences during their degree should link to what they’re thinking about for their career is essential,” Bret said. “Going to a university isn’t all about finding a job. We’re trying to graduate solid global citizens.
But I certainly want to see every one of our graduates employed or in graduate school. It’s on us as a university to put them in a position to be successful.”
Finally, Bret intends to foster a stronger relationship between the university and the city that he and Kay got to know during the “secret shopper” period.
“Because we live in a community together, we want to make that partnership,” he said. “I know it’s good for the university and for the students, but selfishly, it’s good for (Kay and me). So, I think that I can be effective in leading the city and the university to work more closely together.
“If you’re celebrating with each other, who wouldn’t want to live in that environment?” hen like-minded people come together to support causes they are passionate about, their support can elevate programs and initiatives to levels of remarkable achievement. Such is true when Radford University supporters and friends embrace the mission of our university and give of their time and financial resources to turn Radford’s goals into successes and dreams into realities. Working together, our impact has been significant, but the work continues.
The desire to create a welcoming place on both the Radford University campus and within the city and New River Valley region will be key in the steps that the Danilowiczes will take during Bret’s presidency.
Bret and Kay have come a long way since arriving from Florida as an anonymous couple enjoying a leisurely stroll through an unfamiliar community.
The Danilowiczes have found their home.
