After 10 years at UW-Oshkosh, Dean of Students James Chitwood officially retired Oct. 30.
He announced his retirement in July and officially took his leave just one month and 21 days after school started.
Although retiring at the beginning of the school year may sound like he would be leaving his office in chaos, everyone is very happy for him, and they are capable handling the leftover responsibilities.
Chitwood’s retirement does leave a vacancy in the office; however, that does not mean there is an open position.
Assistant Dean of Students Debbie Gray Patton said a committee is discussing the restructure of student affairs, which means they are currently uncertain as to whether or not there will be a dean of students in charge of the same responsibilities as Chitwood was.
She assumes the committee will give Provost Lane Earns a recommendation as to how to proceed with the vacancy.
After he receives the recommendation, he will review it for approval, which will be followed by a search for candidates starting before the spring semester.
Chitwood began working at Oshkosh in 2000 as an interim dean, then became executive director of Residence Life, and then dean of students in 2001.
In 2006, he was permanently solely the dean of students.
“He will be missed,” office manager Ellie Maslowski, who had worked with him for nine years, said.
“He’s been thinking about it for a while,” Gray Patton said, in response to why Chitwood chose to retire now. “It’s a great thing to be retired from a job you loved and did well.”
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