SO LONG TO 108 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Three Tarleton leaders retire

Three Tarleton Leaders Retire

One landed at Tarleton State University amid the Vietnam War,

thinking he’d only stay a couple of years. Another never considered going to college until a high school

So Long counselor encouraged him. A third recalled his grandfather’s advice to pursue an education and set out for a career in teaching. Three longtime Tarleton administrators retire this year, bringing an end to their combined 108 years of service to the university. to 108 Years of Experience

From left, Dr. Steve Steed, his wife, Mary, and Drs. Lisette and F. Dominic Dottavio.

The Right Place

Dr. Steve Steed arrived at Tarleton in 1971, planning to teach a couple of accounting courses before moving up north.

Nearly five decades later, he’s retiring as dean of the College of Business Administration. “Sometimes you are blessed to be in the right place at the right time,” Steed said. “Tarleton was a much different place when I arrived, and I got caught up in the growth and excitement over the years.”

Named dean of the College of Business Administration in 2015, Steed said the moments when he reached students are among his proudest accomplishments.

“We work in a field where we do not know the real result for a long, long time,” he explained. “But occasionally when you’re working with a student, you see that light come on. It’s a good feeling.

“Those of us who teach are blessed. Working with young people keeps us young.”

An Unexpected Path

Dr. David Weissenburger (center) with family

Growing up, college was not on Dr. David Weissenburger’s radar.

The son of a steel mill worker, Weissenburger assumed he might follow in his father’s footsteps. A high school counselor convinced him otherwise, and Weissenburger went on to earn a degree in psychology, even while working at the mill to make ends meet.

Weissenburger retires as interim dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services.

“College was not an expectation for me,” he said. “As a first-generation college student, I understand the challenges so many students face. Graduating from college was daunting.”

Weissenburger worked as a psychologist for the state of Texas before moving to academia in 1994. He joined Tarleton in 1999 as an associate professor of psychology and counseling.

Higher education, he said, shares some common traits with counseling.

“The pursuit of money never drove me,” he said. “I wanted to work with others and be of service. Psychology and higher education both offered the opportunity to empower others in fulfillment of their dreams and ambitions.”

Wise Words

Dr. Dwayne Snider’s grandfather had little education, but a profound appreciation for it.

“Education is one thing no one can take away from you,” Snider recalled his grandfather saying.

Snider retires as Tarleton’s associate provost after 42 years as a member of the faculty and administration.

He served his first stint as a teacher at age 16 while his algebra teacher recovered from an injury.

“I always knew I wanted to teach,” Snider said. “My goal when I came to Tarleton was to teach in public high schools. I saw teachers at Tarleton and decided that looked like a pretty good life.”

Throughout his career, Snider has seen his share of change at the university. New buildings have popped up, and enrollment has soared.

Among his proudest accomplishments are working with every Tarleton provost to hold the title and continuing to work as a mathematics professor, even as he moved to the university’s administrative side.

Retiring comes with mixed emotions, Snider admitted.

“I’m going to miss the people, but I’m comfortable with my decision. It’s the right time.”

Dr. Dwayne Snider (center) with his family