{"id":45782,"date":"2017-07-13T18:33:54","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T22:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=45782"},"modified":"2017-07-14T06:53:38","modified_gmt":"2017-07-14T10:53:38","slug":"for-traves-the-road-got-unexpectedly-longer-and-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/07\/for-traves-the-road-got-unexpectedly-longer-and-better\/","title":{"rendered":"For Traves, the road got unexpectedly longer \u2014 and better"},"content":{"rendered":"

On a sticky July afternoon, with the clock ticking toward his second retirement, Tom Traves was tying up loose ends in the Brock University President\u2019s office. His 10-month stint as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor will\u00a0soon end, and with it a brief but memorable chapter of Brock\u2019s history.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first time Traves retired was in 2013, after 18 years as President of Dalhousie University in Halifax. He\u2019d also spent four years as a university vice-president, eight years as a dean and two as a department chair. That adds up to a lot of leadership experience, which is what Brock\u2019s Board of Trustees wanted in place while they searched for a new president.<\/p>\n

\"Tom

Addressing the crowd at an event held in his honour July 11 in Pond Inlet.<\/p><\/div>\n

When Traves arrived on campus last October, he found a university community dealing with the aftermath of a sudden change in plans for Brock\u2019s incoming president, originally scheduled to start that September. Shortly following the decision not to proceed with the original plans, the Board\u2019s leadership connected with a veteran university leader \u2014 by then living in Toronto \u2014 who was possibly available for a short-term engagement.\u00a0Talks ensued, an offer was made and suddenly Tom Traves was un-retired.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came here, my agenda was threefold,\u201d he said. \u201cCalm the place down, introduce changes where they seemed appropriate and set the table for the next president.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrock was and is a successful university, and they were basically looking to bring in someone with a lot of experience so that everyone here could get back to the things they do so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the University looks forward to the Aug. 1 arrival of its next full-time President in Gervan Fearon<\/a>, there\u2019s a palpable sense that Traves\u2019 time here did indeed dial down anxiety levels at Brock, and help people again be excited about the future. At a reception for Traves this week in Pond Inlet, this sentiment was heard from multiple directions \u2014 the Senate, the Board and the student union.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s amazing what a calming influence such a steady hand can bring to a place,\u201d Scott Henderson, recently stepped down as Chair of Senate, told the gathering. \u201cSometimes an outsider\u2019s eye is invaluable. He’s shown himself to be an astute listener, and this has been crucial in bringing everyone together.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Suk, the immediate past chair of the Board who was responsible for bringing Traves to Brock, alluded to \u201cour early meeting in Toronto at the Marriott Hotel on a rainy day.\u201d<\/p>\n

“He has had the effect of calming the place down from a holistic perspective,\u201d said Suk, \u201cbut also in making important contributions as we move forward. Under Tom we restarted strategic planning and had a balanced budget. Brock is poised now for great things.”<\/p>\n

Traves simply replied that the University was already \u201cblessed with very strong leadership. Not only vice-presidents but very capable deans, associate vice-presidents and department chairs. And we have a clear sense of our responsibility to the people who support this university.\u201d<\/p>\n

Up on the 13th floor of the Schmon Tower, preparing to vacate the corner office for its next inhabitant, Traves reflected on \u201can absolutely enjoyable year. It was nice to get know a new university, new colleagues. The challenges and issues here are not that different from what I\u2019ve experienced elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

He regretted not having time to meet more people, but got satisfaction in soliciting campus-wide input for a\u00a0strategic plan draft<\/a>\u00a0that could chart the University\u2019s course for the next generation. Its recommendations are now left to be considered by his successor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I saw my role almost as a consultant, I know I\u2019m not here for the long term. I have insights into things and I\u2019m prepared to share those insights. Now it\u2019s up to other people to move on them or not, as they see fit.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of his best Brock memories comes from the day before he even started the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the Sunday before the Monday, my wife and I drove to Niagara to drive around the campus. When we pulled up, I said \u2018Wow, this is a big place.\u2019 It looked new, fresh, well designed, it was very impressive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we drove home that afternoon, I felt really pumped and ready to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say that the best way to recruit students to your university is to get them to visit and fall in love with the campus. Well, it works for a president, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Below is a gallery of photos from the appreciation night held in Traves’ honour on July 11 in Pond Inlet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t