By Chadron State College
Former Chadron State College President Janie Park died Tuesday in Billings, Montana. She was 76. A memorial service for close family members will be scheduled at a later date.
Park, who served as CSC’s 10th President from 2005 to 2012, was the institution’s first female President. She brought a calm demeanor and provided a steady hand while the college experienced bizarre circumstances, including a wildfire in 2006 that threatened campus and the city of Chadron.
“Janie and I worked together for most of 17 years,” CSC President Randy Rhine said. “She was a great mentor and a dear friend, whom I will miss.”
Park also led the college to enrollment increases after several down years, its first-ever comprehensive campaign, capital improvements to the institution’s two oldest facilities – Old Admin and Sparks Hall – and shepherded the college’s sustainable fuel efforts while improving the campus landscape.
“The past seven years have been, without exception, an honor and a privilege to serve this great college, and I’ll miss you all more than I can express,” said Park in a story announcing her retirement.
Prior to joining CSC, Park was provost and academic vice chancellor and professor of biological sciences at Montana State University-Billings for nine years. At Montana State, she managed six colleges, the honors program and academic support services, including the library, graduate studies, distance delivery and telecommunications, continuing education, and several university centers. She was also responsible for a $20 million budget, academic assessment, faculty and staff evaluations and served on the collective bargaining team for the faculty unions.
Previously, she served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Montana State University in Billings for three years. She also was associate dean of the College of Science and Liberal Arts at the Florida Institute of Technology at Melbourne for three years.
Park is survived by her husband, Tom, sons, Eric and Chris, and three grandchildren.