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Former interim UA president John Green retires
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: January 8, 2020
When John Green first began serving as interim president of The University of Akron on May 1, 2018, he said he had one primary objective—to stabilize the institution so a permanent replacement could be hired.
“It was a daunting prospect, but I am pleased that the campus worked together to achieve the goal,” said Green. “There were some tough decisions that had to be made, but it paved the way for the hiring process because potential candidates saw an institution that was functioning.”
When Gary Miller took over as UA president on Oct. 1, 2019, Green continued as special advisor to the president. But the following month, Green announced his retirement from the university.
His last day was Dec. 31, 2019, marking an end to over 32 years of service at UA.
“When the board asked me to take on the role of interim president I had already turned in my retirement papers,” said Green, who turned 67 on Jan. 7. “I withdrew my papers and agreed to serve as interim president because I felt really committed to the university and I wanted to help.
“Now that we have stabile leadership, it is time for me to retire,” he said. “My wife and I have many things we want to do while we are still in good health.”
In a press release, Joseph M. Gingo, chair of The University of Akron Board of Trustees stated, “The impact John Green has had on UA and the Akron community is immeasurable. He has led and cared for this University his entire career and has been a staunch advocate for student success, leading by example as a highly respected mentor, academician and political scientist.”
President Gary Miller echoed similar sentiments.
“John has developed a reputation for doing the right thing,” Miller said in an email. “He is level-headed and has made a major impact on both students and the entire University community. UA has been fortunate to have had someone of his caliber as both a faculty member and administrator and I particularly have appreciated his insights and advice during the transition.”
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Green received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado--Boulder. In 1983, he earned his doctorate in government from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
While working on his dissertation, Green began teaching political science at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. After obtaining his doctorate, Green was promoted from instructor to assistant professor.
Green’s career at The University of Akron began in 1987 when he started as an associate professor in The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics.
“I was the first academic hire to support the institute,” said Green. “I was hired by former Ohio Rep. Vernon Cook. Vern was the first director and a member of the Political Science Department.”
When Cook passed away in the fall of 1987, Green said administrators asked him to step in and serve as acting director of the Bliss Institute.
“I really did not want to be director when I started,” said Green. “I enjoyed teaching and doing research. But after I had lunch with Ray Bliss’ widow I changed my mind.
“Ellen Bliss explained to me that her husband was basically a teacher and researcher too and that he would be honored to have me carry on his legacy at the institute that was named after him.”
In 1988, Green was made director of the Bliss Institute, a title he continued to hold until his retirement. During its Dec. 11, 2019 meeting, the board of trustees named him director emeritus of the institute.
Green said as time went on, he was promoted to professor and later distinguished professor of political science.
In 2012 Green took on the role of chair of the Political Science Department and served in a number of administrative roles at the departmental and college levels.
“At one point, I was the interim chair of five departments,” he said.
In 2016, Green became dean of UA’s Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences.
When UA President Scott Scarborough resigned in 2016, Green was among those interviewed to serve as interim president.
“I was delighted when Akron Law Dean Matt Wilson was selected for the position,” said Green.
When Wilson stepped down as president in 2018 to rejoin Akron Law, Green agreed to replace him.
As interim president, Green said he set out to get things back on track, while demonstrating to the outside world that the university has much to offer.
“Like many institutes of higher learning, UA was facing declining enrollment, which meant cuts in personnel were mandatory,” said Green. “Most of the declines came from not filling vacancies and faculty buyouts.
“We also had a number of academic programs with low and declining enrollment and we needed to shift our resources out of those programs and into ones with growing demand.
“We suspended about 20% of our programs, which only accounted for five percent of our students,” said Green. “Those who were already enrolled in the programs are allowed to complete their studies, but no new students could enroll.”
At the same time, 32 new faculty members were authorized to teach for in-demand programs, he said.
“In addition, our workload policies, which dictate how professors balance research and teaching, had to be updated,” he said. “None of these changes was fun, but they all had to be made if the institution was to go forward.”
While Green has officially retired, he will return to the university for a limited engagement starting on March 2 to lead the Bliss Institute until a full-time director is hired.
To pay tribute to his years of service, the Dr. John C. Green Endowed Scholarship fund has been established to provide financial support to deserving students of the Bliss Institute. This scholarship fund will support tuition and fees as well as expenses for travel, lodging and costs for conferences or internship opportunities related to Bliss curriculum.
Green said he plans to donate the stipend he receives for his service this spring to the newly established scholarship fund.
During his long career, Green was twice selected as Outstanding Faculty Member by the board of trustees. He was also honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the American Political Science Association and was named Senior Research Advisor of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, a title he continues to retain.
Green has authored nine books, 32 edited books, 138 book chapters, 39 refereed journal articles and 120 other scholarly and popular publications.
“I plan to continue to research and write about American politics,” said Green. “We live in exciting political times so there is much to write about.”
Green lives in West Akron with his wife Lynn, a career counselor who runs her own business. They have two adult children. Their son Brendan teaches political science at the University of Cincinnati and their daughter Darcy is a school nurse at St. Edmund’s Academy in Pittsburgh. Darcy and her husband Russel have three children.
“Now that I’m retired we will be spending a lot more time in Pittsburgh with our grandchildren and traveling abroad,” said Green. “My job as director of the Bliss Institute afforded us the chance to travel a great deal and we developed a taste for it.”