2008 Woodie Awards
'Ready for change': former president retires
Amber Chemam
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: Front Page
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McFadden has worked on college campuses for 50 years, coming to UST in 1988 to serve as president for nine years. He then taught at the University of Limmerick in Ireland for a six-month sabbatical before returning to the University as a full-time faculty member. McFadden served another stint as president when he was asked to be UST's interim president from January to July of 2004, before current UST President Robert Ivany was hired.
McFadden said he remembers that when he stepped back into the president's office, it didn't take him long to readjust, despite his reservations about reassuming the position.
"I remember thinking that it was going to be really difficult, but I couldn't say no," McFadden said. "I was amazed at myself. I got in that office, and 15 seconds later, I was acting like a president."
McFadden said that he originally stepped down from the presidency because he felt that nine years was a long time to serve as a leader of any institution and that he wanted to see someone new bring a fresh perspective. He also believed that after three presidencies, at UST as well as the University of South Dakota and Northern State College, he would be able to benefit more from teaching again.
McFadden said he always maintained a faculty-friendly perspective in his role as president because he remained connected to his identity as an educator first.
"I always felt that one of the things that helped me through my whole career as an administrator, is that I never forgot where I came from," Mc Fadden said. "I had to think with a faculty mentality, and I think that served me well."
McFadden said he most values his memories of the people he worked closely with at UST. "If we did things right here, it's because we had a lot of people that helped," he said.
He also said he was impressed by the amount of positive feedback he received from the University community. "The people here were so glad when I came, that I was just humbled," McFadden said. "For the first three years, every place I went on campus, someone would say 'We're so glad you're here.' For the first week, you expect that. But, after three years, it's very humbling."