Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/30/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Northwestern State University provost and vice president for academic affairs Dr. Thomas A. Burns will retire June 30 after 35 years at the university. Burns, the second ranking member of Northwestern's administration, has been provost and vice president for academic affairs since 1996.

"It has been my privilege to work with Tom Burns in his role as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northwestern," said NSU president Dr. Randall J. Webb. "I knew and worked with him closely when he was head of the department of life sciences. Few people know that Tom began his professional career as a science educator in the public schools. This experience served him well at Northwestern, where we place a premium on excellence in teaching and serving the needs of students in and out of the classroom. The best testimony to his effectiveness as provost is the progress Northwestern has made in strengthening the quality of its academic programs during his tenure. Also, he is highly respected at the state level, which has been of major importance to the University in its quest for excellence."

Under Burns' leadership, the university has continued to strengthen its academic programs bringing national and international attention to Northwestern. NSU became the only public university in Louisiana to achieve 100 percent accreditation of eligible academic programs. Northwestern upgraded available technology for its faculty and took a leadership role in distance education, offering more exclusively electronic classes and degree programs than any other Louisiana college or university. During Burns' tenure as provost and vice president for academic affairs, the university also reestablished colleges within its academic structure.

"I have had the opportunity to close out my academic career in a way few people have had the chance," said Burns. "This position gave me a totally different perspective on how the university operates. I understand what takes place across all lines of the university from the teaching aspect to budgets and public relations. Those are the kinds of things I never experienced as a faculty member."

Burns joined Northwestern's faculty in 1968 as an assistant professor of biology, earning his doctorate from Arizona State University in 1969.

"What made Northwestern so appealing to me was the people I worked with in the biology department," said Burns. "In the department, we had people from all over the United States who had been brought in by Grady Erwin and we had the same goals. We were interested in our field of expertise and in teaching. People like Ray Baumgardner, Dick Stalling, Oren Whitehead, Robert Noble and Ken Williams made it a pleasure to go to work each day.

"I look back on why I stayed and it was because of the people I worked with. Natchitoches is a great place to raise a family and to grow it. The people are so friendly. That's why we stayed."

According to Burns, another part of Northwestern's appeal was the ability of an individual to have a positive impact.

"All of the faculty in our department felt like we were part of something important," he said. "I wanted to teach and pursue my professional interest in physiology. I was also involved with both graduate and undergraduate students in research. Sometimes I thought about going to a major university, but at Northwestern I knew I could really make a difference."

As a faculty member, Burns became a leading researcher in comparative vertebrate physiology. He authored or co-authored more than 40 major publications or presentations to regional, national and international professional organizations.

Burns also became a recognized expert in the use of Micro-Imaging Processing system software. This software is used for the manipulation of both vector and raster images for image interpretation and creation as well as for the creation of layers for use in Geographical Information System layers. Burns has also received training in aerial photography interpretation of color infrared imagery and computer mapping.

In 1982, Burns became head of the Department of Life Sciences and was named coordinator of life sciences in 1994. Two years later, Burns was named interim vice president for academic affairs. He was named vice president for academic affairs permanently in 1997, adding the title of provost.

"The past seven years have given me a great appreciation for the office of vice president for academic affairs and the challenges faced by my predecessors," said Burns. "Before, it was easy for me to wonder why the administration did this or didn't do that. I understand the process now."

Burns plans an active retirement. He and his wife Abby plan to travel. Burns also plans to devote time to some of his hobbies and do volunteer work with various organizations.

"It has been a good 35 years for me at Northwestern," said Burns. "The university has been a pleasurable place to work. It has been very fulfilling to have an opportunity to work at a university such as Northwestern.

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