After spending 35 years at Ohio University, David Descutner, dean of University College and executive vice provost for undergraduate education, has met an extraordinary number of students, faculty and staff.
And he remembers their names.
Descutner has held a variety of positions at OU, including leading a learning community for University College honors students that included Keith Wilbur, now a junior studying political science and economics and second-year student trustee.
Wilbur remembers when Descutner drove past him on Stimpson Avenue, with his head out the window, and called Wilbur’s name and shouted, “Happy New Year!”
“I would say Dr. Descutner touches a lot of students, just to see him interact with people,” Wilbur said. “He’ll meet you, and he’ll remember your name.”
The amount of students Descutner interacts with will soon decrease when he retires from his university roles at the end of the 2013-14 academic year.
Descutner came to OU in 1979 as a faculty member from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and he said he instantly recognized a unique faculty attitude toward students.
“Faculty here are not cynical about students,” Descutner said. “Part of (the benefit of this job) is just the satisfaction of working with high-performing colleagues who love working with students.”
As a faculty member, Descutner worked in the School of Communication Studies and the Honors Tutorial College in the fields of rhetorical theory and criticism, political communication and the philosophy of communication.
He has also held director positions for the schools’ undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as Faculty Senate seats and executive committee positions.
Of the students he worked with as a full-time faculty member, Descutner has watched at least one of them advance within OU’s administration.
Interim Chief of Staff to the Provost’s Office Laura Myers first met Descutner in 1986 as a freshman studying in the Honors Tutorial College, where Descutner taught her new styles of reading, writing and communication.
“He was instrumental in helping me think like a college student,” Myers said. “He was someone who for whatever reason decided I was worth his time and attention to mentor, and it’s been tremendously helpful.”
Descutner remembered Myers’ name when she returned to OU in 2002 while he was serving as the dean of the University College and helped her adjust to her new roles within OU administration.
He said he tried to maintain and improve the first-year experience for students in all colleges. He was named executive vice provost in 2009 while still serving as dean to help implement the university’s transition to semesters.
“David sees promise in every student and a potential collaborator in every colleague,” Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit said in an email. “I value his positive outlook and tenaciousness. Where others see problems, he sees opportunities to improve outcomes. I will miss his quick wit and advocacy for student success.”
Descutner and his wife, Lysa Burnier, a professor of political science, established an award in 2010 for advisers in the University College. They’re also finishing a final endowment for a cash prize for “outstanding” juniors who help first-year students.
Descutner earned a salary of $143,327 for the 2013-14 academic year.
Descutner has directed 50 dissertations and served on more than 100 doctoral and master’s committees.
As she prepares to defend her thesis, Casey O’Brien, a senior studying geological sciences, said she owes Descutner for help finding her interest in geology to Descutner and his first year honors learning community in University College.
“He is really good at really listening to people, and he takes into consideration about what you say,” O’Brien said. “He really looks out for people. He’s a guy who really has your back.”
Descutner will return to the Scripps College of Communication as an early retired faculty member, where he plans to teach introductory public speaking, as well as courses in political rhetoric and advising first year students.
“So many people have been hired since I left, so I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and of course, going back to the thing that I think is most rewarding, which is teaching and advising students,” Descutner said.
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