Wednesday, January 21, 2004
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Wednesday, January 21, 2004 |
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Rice retires after 27 years at CCSU After more than 27 years of service, Professor of History and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Bradley R. Rice retired from Clayton State at the end of fall semester 2003. Rice will be remembered not only for his expertise in Georgia history, including the Georgia state flag, but also for his commitment to bringing new programs of study to the University. So how did a native of Oklahoma City become one of the Peach State’s finest Georgia history experts? A true historian, Rice recalls the words of a famous speech that Booker T. Washington gave in Atlanta, “Washington said, 'Cast down your bucket where you are,’ and I found I was here,” said Rice, smiling. Over the years, Rice worked his way through the Clayton State ranks, beginning as an assistant professor in 1976, becoming an associate professor in 1981, and then reaching the status of professor of history in 1987. In 1988, Rice became part of Clayton State’s administration, holding the title of assistant vice president for academic affairs for 10 years. Rice was then promoted to his current title, associate vice president for academic affairs. In his 15 years in Academic Affairs, Rice coordinated proposal processes with the Board of Regents to bring new baccalaureate programs to the University, thereby allowing the University to offer more majors. Rice has had a hand in every major brought to Clayton State since the University became a four-year institution in 1986. The University’s most recent addition, the Bachelor of Arts in history, officially began this fall - a good note for this history buff to end on. “I think it’s critical that Clayton State live up to its mission of serving south metropolitan Atlanta, and contributing to the educational and economic growth of this region,” said Rice. “The Board of Regents and its staff up through the 1990s didn’t fully understand the need for Clayton State to grow, but we now seem poised for a period of rapid expansion.” A professor first in his heart, Rice continued teaching history even after his transition into Academic Affairs. He especially enjoyed teaching American business history “because it’s a field of history that most students haven’t thought much about. It’s an opportunity to show students new aspects of history, and one that is very relevant to their lives.” He also enjoyed teaching the 20th century United States course that focused on the progressive movement, the women’s movement, and civil rights. “I believe I was able to be an effective administrator while maintaining a faculty perspective and remaining an active participant in my discipline,” he said. Upon retirement, Rice remembers his history students “who left the class more interested in history when they came in,” and encourages students to make education a high priority. As for history majors, Rice promises to continue to work on establishing the new program by putting money towards the establishment of the Oral History Project, a project that will record on audio tape the history of the University as remembered by founders such as former president Harry S. Downs. Rice earned his B.A. in History from Oklahoma State University, his M.A. in History from the University of Texas at Austin, and his Ph.D. in U.S. History with a 20th Century Urban Focus also from UT Austin. His knowledge of Georgia history, urban politics and the Georgia flag has landed him in newspapers, on television, and in books, including his own work, “Georgia, the Empire State of the South,” co-authored with Harvey H. Jackson. In addition to writing, Rice also acted as editor of the Atlanta Historical Society's “Atlanta History: A Journal of Georgia and the South” from 1983-2001. Rice and wife Vivian, who recently retired from the Clayton County School System after more than 30 years, plan to spend their retirement traveling the world, starting with a January trip to Ecuador and Peru. They have two grown children, Travis and Vera, and three grandchildren, Katie (11), Sarah (3), and David (19 months). Rice had the honor of presenting son Travis with his diploma at Clayton State’s graduation ceremony in December 2003. Rice thanks his immediate family; his mother Elizabeth; his two brothers; his stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister; and his nieces and nephews in Texas and Oklahoma, for their support throughout his life and his career. He also thanks the Clayton State faculty for presenting a check to support his trip to Boston for the next Organization of American Historians convention. Rice is a past president of the Georgia Association of Historians, and plans to remain active in that group and other history organizations after retirement. Rice will remain an expert history source attainable through contact with the University. To learn more about Rice or his expertise in Georgia history, contact the office of University Relations at 770- 960-2109.
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