Retirements:

K. Patricia Cross

I remember vividly the first time I saw Pat Cross. It was 1979 and I was watching her give the keynote address at an organization's national convention. Why was she so memorable? Because she was able to capture the essence of what was emerging as one of higher education's greatest challenges--a student population that was becoming increasingly multicultural--and, through one of her legendary metaphors (education as a superhighway), communicate it in a way that managed to be both subtly evocative and remarkably crisp.

These qualities of vision, and the ability to convey a complex concept in a simple but rich metaphor, have contributed to her effectiveness as a national educational leader and as a remarkably inspiring teacher.

On a national level, her career accomplishments are breath-taking. Fifteen institutions have bestowed upon her honorary doctorates. Prior to her appointment at Berkeley in 1988, she held instructional, research, and administrative posts at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Harvard and Cornell.

She has published approximately 200 books, monographs, chapters, and articles. Recent honors include the ACE Borden Book Medal, AACJC's "National Person of the Year," and ASHE's Howard R. Bowen Distinguished Career Award. And as an internationally recognized educational leader, she has served on more advisory, organization, and editorial boards than seems humanly possible.

Yet despite all of these activities, she always seemed to make teaching her top priority. Students such as myself, who have had the enormous good fortune to have had her as our teacher, know this first-hand. We know that she somehow managed her complex schedule--which required extensive traveling--such that she never missed a single class. We know that she came to each class well-prepared, and that we treasured our time with her because of the high level of learning that always took place.

We know that she provided swift and thorough feedback on our work. I recall how, while I was working on my doctoral dissertation, she was invariably the first to respond with careful, thoughtful, constructive criticism on my research and writing.

Fortunately for higher education, there are also thousands of others who have experienced her abilities and commitment indirectly through her writings, workshops, and speeches. Like her students, they have been guided by her insights and analysis as well as inspired to try and create effective learning environments on their own campuses.

When Pat announced last year that she would be retiring in the spring, I heard many people voice their dismay. How we all rejoiced when we heard that she had been persuaded to return to accept a post-retirement appointment as the first holder of the David Pierpont Gardner Chair in Higher Education.

Whatever she decides to do in this new stage of her career, she will continue to influence and guide not only fortunate individuals such as myself, but higher education as a whole. --Elizabeth F. Barkley (`93, Ph.D.)