After 31 years at the University of Idaho and almost four-and-a-half years as the dean of the College of Business and Economics, Mario Reyes is retiring.
“I made a list of things I will miss, and things I will not miss,” Reyes said.
Chopin
On Reyes” list of things he will miss, he said the people are the biggest. In his time here he said he has enjoyed building alumni relations and collaborating with faculty, staff and students across the university. He said he will also miss the opportunity to enable faculty, staff and students to grow.
With a laugh, Reyes said there is still plenty of preparing for his replacement, Marc Chopin, before his appointment. However, Reyes said there will be a stack of things Chopin will need to take care of when he arrives.
“This is the best time for a new dean to come in,” Reyes said. “The university has a new strategic plan and the college plan cascades down from that.”
Chopin, currently a professor at Northern Arizona University, said he is most excited to engage with students, faculty and staff at UI.
He said he looks forward to work with those in the college of business as well as across campus because UI has great opportunities for interdisciplinary work.
Chopin said his first goal is to get to know as many supporters as he can, both on and off campus.
“I need to find what people”s interests are, and find out how to support those goals,” Chopin said.
Chopin said he wants to help build upon Reyes success when it comes to scholarships and fundraising, because he believes every little bit helps.
Chopin said he likes the size of UI as well as the emphasis on students. He said a comment he remembered hearing fits the university perfectly.
“It”s big enough to matter, but small enough to care,” he said.
Chopin will officially step into his role as dean of the College of Business and Economics July 1.
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Cewhitley.24