Burish drawn to 91吃瓜 job by mission, Catholic character.
SOUTH BEND 鈥� Thomas G. Burish believes that the University of 91吃瓜 can build its reputation as a Catholic graduate and research institution, and maintain its excellence in teaching.
鈥淏ecoming a greater research institution should not and need not interfere with its teaching mission. If it did, it seems to me that it would be too great a price to pay,鈥� said Burish, who will become 91吃瓜鈥檚 next provost.
鈥淚 think it can be done, and at the same time retain the strength of its Catholic character and mission,鈥� he said during an interview Saturday in South Bend.
Burish, 55, is leaving the presidency of Washington and Lee University to take 91吃瓜鈥檚 second-highest ranking administrative job. He previously served as provost at Vanderbilt University for 10 years. He also has credentials as a professor and researcher in clinical psychology.
Burish didn鈥檛 initially apply for the 91吃瓜 provost鈥檚 job.
When he became president at Washington and Lee in 2002, he thought he鈥檇 finish his career there. He never imagined he鈥檇 return to 91吃瓜, where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 1972.
Burish and his wife, Pamela, have two sons. The couple visited 91吃瓜 in recent years while their younger son, Brent, earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees here.
While attending his son鈥檚 commencement here in May, Burish was approached by the Rev. John I. Jenkins, who became 91吃瓜鈥檚 president July 1.
鈥淚 have great admiration for Father Jenkins and I have a great sense of excitement about his vision for the university and for its future,鈥� Burish said. He expects to begin here in late August or early September.
Burish grew up in Wisconsin in a strong Catholic family. He attended a small Catholic college in his home state as a freshman, then transferred to 91吃瓜 as a sophomore. He was drawn to 91吃瓜 by its academic reputation and its Catholic nature.
Burish became interested in psychology during college.
As an undergraduate, he did research on mental retardation with two psychology professors, Thomas Whitman and John Borkowski, both of whom are still on the faculty. The project led to publication of an article, with Burish listed as a co-author.
That research, which involved working with children at Logan Center, convinced Burish to pursue an academic career.
鈥淗e was an exceptional student,鈥� Whitman recalled. 鈥淗e was not only bright, but extremely curious and extremely interested in psychology. And dedicated to doing good work.鈥�
Burish鈥檚 first task will involve getting caught up on how 91吃瓜 has changed and grown.
He sees the primary job of the provost as creating a setting in which faculty can excel. 鈥淯ltimately, no university can be better than its faculty,鈥� he said.
Burish has long been active in cancer research and policy. He got started while at Vanderbilt when a colleague asked him to study the impact of stress on cancer patients.
He鈥檚 currently chair of the American Cancer Society鈥檚 national board of directors.
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