|
Robert
T. Wagner
Citation
for the Honorary Degree
Doctor
of Public Service
The
South Dakota Board of Regents recognizes the exceptional contributions
of a retiring president by conferring on him an honorary doctorate.
Never before in the one hundred-year history of the Board has such
recognition been given to an individual who served the people of
South Dakota as a professor and as a leader within the system of
higher education.
Robert
T. Wagner richly deserves such recognition. His work as President
of South Dakota State University fixes a high standard by which
institutional leadership should be measured.
President
Wagner's leadership manifested itself on multiple levels. His early
efforts as president healed an institutional rife with suspicion
and forged a consensus among constituent groups to support his principled,
carefully document, open, accountable decision-making style. Throughout
his presidency, President Wagner played a decisive role in support
of Board initiatives to recast decision-making procedures for the
whole university system in a like mold.
President
Wagner saw, as few presidents before him had seen, that the surest
way to preserve the advantages of his university lay, not through
recourse to political supporters, but through the systematic introduction
of sound public administration practices. Well administered universities
stood to benefit so long as academic programs and system policies
were reviewed in terms of quality, contributions to state welfare
and fiscal requirements. Ever conscious that South Dakota had but
limited resources to devote to the support of higher education,
President Wagner recognized that reliance on raw political power
to advance one institution, at the expense of others, would lead
only to strife among institutions and communities. He knew that
such strife would inevitably erode public confidence in all state
universities. President Wagner understood that his university and
the system could only prosper if they could document for the public
and public officials that scarce resources had been allocated wisely
and expended efficiently to produce demonstrable results to benefit
the public.
President
Wagner understood how the presidency of the land-grant university
fit into the affairs of the state as a whole. He recognized his
obligation to the people of South Dakota to administer the university
for their benefit, not merely for that of certain institutional
constituencies. Still, however much his sure perception of the obligations
and opportunities of the presidency contributed to his achievements,
President Wagner had to draw upon other ranges of skills to communicate
his vision to often-skeptical listeners and to translate it into
practice.
President
Wagner demonstrated a consummate ability to work with people. Assuming
office in troubled times, President Wagner won the confidence of
the diverse groups that carry out or support the work of the land
grant university. Able to listen to disparate views, quick to find
effective means to address reasonable concerns, mindful of the need
to acknowledge genuine concern or effort, eloquent and sincere when
expressing his thoughts and proposals, sure in his selection of
subordinates, exacting in his expectations for professional accomplishment
and prudent when entrusting responsibilities to others, President
Wagner transformed skepticism into commitment, and he provided institutional
supporters productive channels to contribute to the well being of
their university, while supporting the cause of higher education
throughout the state. At the same time, he shaped administration
whose accomplishment and consistent professionalism earned respect
and emulation within the state and nationally.
President
Wagner evidences a rare combination of genuine statecraft and true
skill in working with people. A South Dakota native, his legacy
of public service to the people of South Dakota honors them and
leaves in place decision-making practices that will stand the test
of time. Such leadership merits recognition, and it is with great
pride that the Board confers upon Robert T. Wagner the degree of
Doctor of Public Service honoris causa.
|
PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.