Vice Provost Riley leaves for sabbatical

By Jessica Alway

Philip "Boo" Riley is leaving his position just as his vision for Santa Clara is becoming a reality on campus. After five years as vice provost and working to advance the university's Integrated Education initiative, he will step down on July 1 to take a year long sabbatical.

Riley has greatly contributed to the initiation and promotion of the Residential Learning Communities, which were introduced on campus three years ago. It will continue to grow next year by encompassing sophomores as well.

"I am so happy with the progress we have made," said Riley. "I truly believe the RLCs are a valuable part of both the learning process and the social process. They show so much promise for the future. I feel proud that this is the legacy I will leave the university."

But Riley is not leaving entirely, however. He will return to Santa Clara as an associate professor in the religious studies department, the position he held when he began here in 1978.

Even then integration was a key theme for him. Riley, during his first years as a professor, was working on his dissertation and simultaneously writing lesson plans for Catholic theology courses. Then for years he had students over to his house for cookies and study sessions.

"Integration is just sort of instinctive for me," said Riley. "I don't put things in neat little boxes. But I think it helps to make me a better administrator."

In 1990 Riley was appointed associate dean in the College of Arts and Science. Over the course of his seven year tenure his contributions included the development of the summer program, a lead role in the enrollment and course planning model that continues to be used today, part-time faculty budgets and protocols, and work on behalf of the College faulty on advising, orientation, admissions, and related student programs.

He was given a new kind of challenge in 1997 when then Provost Steve Privett asked Riley to help implement the Provost organization review and change that began in 1995.

"Before the Provost model there was two separate parts of the University," said Riley. "One part dealt with academics while the other dealt with student affairs. The two knew the other existed yet never interacted. My job was to break down that barrier." To do so he collaborated with colleagues in Student Affairs, deans' offices, and faculty to restructure key university services and develop new strategic initiatives. From this vision sprung the Drahmann Center for Multicultural Learning, a comprehensive advising and learning resource, which now reports to Riley.

He also played a lead role in the WASC self-study during the 1998-99 academic year. Then in 1999 he assumed the position of vice provost for undergraduate learning, and took on administrative responsibilities for admissions and enrollment services, student life, Core Curriculum, housing, residential learning communities, and career center, as well as the previously mentioned Drahmann Center.

In this capacity Riley has worked to integrate the various programs which report to him and the RLCs are the most apparent fruit of that labor. While he prides himself on this achievement he is not the only one.

"In his five years with the Provost Office Boo has helped to establish innovative and promising structures," said Provost Denise Carmody. "He has nurtured them to the point where it is time for others in the university community to step in to provide new energy and leadership."