糖心vlog

Gregory Boardman鈥檚 career in higher education includes what he calls 鈥淧acific bookends.鈥�

Boardman鈥檚 first job out of college was in 糖心vlog鈥檚 Division of Student Life. And now, in retirement from Stanford University, he is stepping back into campus life serving as a Pacific regent.

Boardman also was named to the executive committee of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), a lobbying and advocacy organization for the state鈥檚 independent colleges.

鈥淎fter nearly four decades in higher education, I consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to do this,鈥� Boardman said. 鈥淧acific gave me a start, and the university means so much to me. My career has been in the area of student life, but both of these positions will allow me to be focused on the totality of the university. This is an exciting opportunity.鈥�

Judy Chambers, Pacific vice president for student life emerita, hired Boardman in 1980. She saw 鈥渁 spark鈥� that made her know he would be an advocate for students.

鈥淗e was dependable, thorough, great with students and very dedicated to the overall university,鈥� Chambers said. 鈥淲hen I heard Pacific was bringing Gregory back as a regent, I told President (Christopher) Callahan, 鈥楥ongratulations. That is brilliant to have someone with a student affairs background on the board.鈥� Just to have someone who understands students鈥� different needs is tremendous.鈥�

Norman Allen, Chair of the Board of Regents, reached out to Boardman about the position.

鈥淕reg spent his entire career in student life and brings incomparable experience and perspective to our board, not just about the student co-curricular experience, but also the insights gleaned from years sitting at the leadership table of leading universities,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淗is voice on our board helps ensure we stay true to the university鈥檚 mission and remain student-centered in our work.鈥�

Cross-country journey to Pacific

Boardman grew up on a multi-generational dairy farm in Vermont and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont (1979) and a master鈥檚 from Penn State (1982). He has 鈥済reat love and respect鈥� for farming, particularly his family鈥檚 farm, but says, 鈥淚 knew that was not for me.鈥�

From 1980 to 1988 he was director of fraternity programs and university apartments, assistant to the vice president for student life and director of special student life programs at Pacific.

Boardman said Chambers鈥� influence was profound.

鈥淪he got me involved in decision making and taught me about the overall work of student life,鈥� Boardman said. 鈥淛udy was very involved in NASPA (the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators), our national organization, and she brought me in. Pacific set the foundation for my career.鈥�

After eight years, Boardman left Pacific for Tulane University in New Orleans, where he worked for 16 years. In 2004, he was hired for the No. 2 role in student life by Stanford University. When his boss retired, Boardman was named the lead. He finished his career at Stanford.

Getting started and setting priorities

Boardman has embraced his role as a regent, and appreciated that the board met in person in October during President Christopher Callahan鈥檚 investiture.

鈥淚 found it much better for getting acclimated as a new Regent when I could be in the same room with my colleagues on the board and with the university,鈥� he said.

Boardman is focused on a number of issues facing higher education in general and Pacific in particular, including diversity, equity and inclusion.

鈥淚t is very positive to see how Pacific is becoming a DEI leader,鈥� Boardman said. 鈥淧resident Callahan made it a priority as soon as he arrived, and the university as a whole is dedicated to this effort. It鈥檚 especially important for faculty recruiting and hiring. Higher education as a whole must have more diverse hiring.鈥�

Other areas of focus, Boardman said, include Pacific鈥檚 financial viability, mental health issues and athletics.

Opportunities through state committee

Pacific will continue to have a voice in statewide issues through Boardman鈥檚 membership on the AICCU Executive Committee, which is responsible for establishing the association鈥檚 agenda on education policy and encouraging support for association and member priorities. His appointment is for two years. Former Regent Dianne Philibosian also has served as an AICCU trustee.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting because it鈥檚 something broader than Pacific,鈥� Boardman said.

鈥淎ICCU is an important voice on a state and national level,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淕reg鈥檚 point of view as both a Regent and as someone who worked in higher education leadership makes AICCU stronger. And when AICCU succeeds in advancing its mission, Pacific directly benefits.鈥�

Boardman and his partner, Michael Silvio, reside in New Mexico.

"I am honored and humbled to join this exemplary group of leaders," Boardman said. "This opportunity is a bookend to my career, making it even more special."