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 NEWS SUMMARY AND MARKETING |
In his 31 years on the Richmond campus, Dr. Doug Whitlock says he has 
had the opportunity to work for "several different Eastern Kentucky
Universities."Now, as the University's new vice president for administration and finance, Whitlock finds himself at "a very exciting time" in the history of his alma mater. "I've been here through the physical plant expansion, tremendous enrollment growth and a commitment to our extended campus," Whitlock said. "What I see happening now that is certainly appealing to me is a refocus on the importance of campus community. Over time, that has been a real strength of this University but every once in a while you have to go back and revisit some of your traditional strengths. "That's the one thing I remember about Eastern, that strong sense of community, and you can lose that as you get bigger." Whitlock's job grew considerably larger recently when he was given responsibilities formerly held by Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer Earl Baldwin, who retired this summer. Whitlock had served as vice president for administrative affairs for the past year. He now oversees Public Safety, Facilities Services, Human Resources, Information Technology and Delivery Services, Community and Workforce Education, Media Resources, University Bookstore, Food Services, Accounting and Budgetary Control, Internal Audits, Billings and Collections and Farms. "I have always loved variety," Whitlock chuckled. "Very seldom in the past have any two days been alike, and that's virtually guaranteed now. These offices come into contact with and touch a lot of people, and the old PR person in me wants those contacts to be as positive as possible." If anyone is prepared to meet that enormous challenge, it's Whitlock, whose progressively responsible positions since joining the EKU staff in 1968 seemingly have pointed to his current title. The Richmond native, who earned baccalaureate and master's degrees at Eastern and a doctorate in education from the University of Kentucky, has served as director of publications, director of public information, acting director of Affirmative Action and, from 1976 to 1998, executive assistant to Presidents J.C. Powell and Hanly Funderburk. "The publications and public information positions gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about the University," Whitlock said. "Then, working for J.C. Powell and Hanly Funderburk, I was exposed in significant ways to virtually every aspect of the institution. I'm grateful to the late Dr. Powell and to Dr. Funderburk for the opportunities they gave me to grow and to (EKU President) Bob Kustra for recognizing that growth." Through the years, Whitlock has declined opportunities to take his talents elsewhere. "I have been fortunate to be able to work in my hometown, at my alma mater," said Whitlock, whose wife, the former Joanne Adams, is secretary for the EKU sports information office. "Most people would have to move three or four times to experience what I've been able to experience here at Eastern. Eastern is home, Richmond is home and we have family and lifelong friends here. I've had opportunities to advance professionally without moving and not give all that up." But don't look at Whitlock as a link to the past in a time of rapid change at EKU. "I've always tried to be forward-looking so I'd like to think of helping to carry us into the future more than being a link to the past," he said. "But, as an historian, I know that understanding the past gives you a perspective that's very important as you do move ahead." A computer enthusiast who has taught courses in programming, Whitlock sees technology as the key to growth at Eastern, even beyond the classrooms on the Richmond campus. "Some of the growth will be in the standard classroom environment, but even more will be in the area of distance education," he predicted. "We have to be increasingly global in our approach to things. Technology is drawing the world together, and we can't build a bubble around ourselves and ignore that." There is one caveat, however. "We want to be able to enhance access," he said, "but we have to be careful not to lose the value added by our students' constant contact with faculty and other students." |