New Student Center Director Takes the Reins

New Student Center Director Takes the Reins

BY LISA NUTTING
Rice News Staff
Sept. 24, 1998

Though he’s only been on the job since Sept. 8, Student Center Director Boyd Beckwith
is quick to list several of his goals, including opening the lines of communication
between the Student Center staff and Rice students, faculty and staff.

"I think it’s my job to let students and faculty know everything the Student
Center has to offer," an enthusiastic Beckwith said.

The former program director of operations at the University of Arizona in Tucson
joined Rice after a swift summer hiring process. Beckwith said he learned of the
open position through the Association of College Unions International listserv
and applied at the end of July. He interviewed at Rice in early August and found
out he had been selected for the job the following week. After submitting two
weeks’ notice to the University of Arizona, Beckwith headed to Houston.

While the hiring process was quick, Beckwith said, "I was definitely happy
with the results."

He says he believes he was hired, in part, because of his "advocacy for students
and [philosophy of] having them involved in the [Student Center] process."

Beckwith earned a bachelor of arts degree from Bowling Green State University
in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he majored in business administration and music.
He later received a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pa.

After graduate school, Beckwith served as coordinator of student activities at
Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Ind., where he worked for three years.
The school was similar in size to Rice, he said, however the student body was
100 percent commuter.

From there, Beckwith moved to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he was an associate
program director for about three and a half years.

His next move landed him at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he joined
the staff as associate director for the Department of Student Programs. He was
later promoted to program director for operations of the Arizona Student Unions,
where he gained experience that he believes will be helpful in his new position
at Rice.

After three years of working at the large Arizona university, Beckwith realized
he wanted to return to a smaller school setting.

"I wanted to be at a smaller school where I have many responsibilities but
can still be involved with students," Beckwith said. "Rice, I believe,
is going to give me that opportunity."

His role, Beckwith said, includes working with students as well as other Rice
community members who use the Student Center.

"Helping students understand why this can’t be just their building"
is an important part of his job, Beckwith said. "We’re really the campus
community center." On the other hand, he said, he also needs to make alumni
aware that the center is not only theirs.

Informing the campus of upcoming events that will temporarily close the Student
Center is one plan Beckwith has already set in motion.

"When I interviewed for this position, students complained that they would
often come to the Student Center, only to find that it was closed due to a special
event," Beckwith explained in his first campuswide e-mail. "Although
fulfilling our mission sometimes requires the Student Center to host events that
require changes in our operations, I feel it is the Student Center’s responsibility
to give the campus community as much advance notice as possible."

Improving the sign system around the center is another priority, Beckwith said,
later pointing to a large brown cabinet in the Grand Hall lobby and asking, "Would
you know that was a mailbox?" He plans to add a new, well-marked postal box
next to the stamp machine as well as improve signage throughout the entire student
center.

While he spent about three years at each of his three previous jobs, Beckwith
said he already believes Rice will change that score with a longer tenure. "I
think there will be enough opportunity to keep me challenged at Rice," he
said.