Dear University Community,
I spent the weekend reflecting about this amazing university and all the people who have come before me and those that will be here long after. During my lifetime, I have had the opportunity to meet people who are transformative in how they think about possibilities and go beyond what you can see to imagine greatness. Former 51ԹϺ President Dr. Carol C. Harter was one of those people. Sadly, as you might have read over the weekend, President Harter passed away late last week.
Her contributions to 51ԹϺ cannot be overstated. President Harter oversaw tremendous change and growth during her 11 years as 51ԹϺ’s leader. She loved and cared so much about our university. She worked tirelessly so it could reach its potential, and was the first to have the vision of how 51ԹϺ could – and would – become a major research university. Her vision set 51ԹϺ on the path to becoming a Carnegie R1 “very high research” university, placing us among the top 3 percent of research universities nationally.
The 51ԹϺ School of Dental Medicine, William S. Boyd School of Law, Lied Library, and the formation of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs all occurred during Dr. Harter’s tenure. She was a role model for many as the first woman president at 51ԹϺ, and she was a fierce proponent for gender equality. She established the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada and also was instrumental in founding and creating the vision for the Black Mountain Institute, along with philanthropist Beverly Rogers.
But more than anything else, President Harter championed the needs of our students, always with an eye on their success. She understood that 51ԹϺ offered our students a chance to dream big, explore careers, and improve their quality of life. She believed in them, encouraged them, and advocated for them.
She was a leader ahead of her time, and a mentor to me. Carol would reach out periodically and ask how I was doing, share her thoughts on an issue, or offer counsel when I needed a different perspective or approach. She would even text me about 51ԹϺ football games. She was honest and critical at times, but always supportive, drawing on her experience as the longest serving 51ԹϺ president. She always wanted what was best for this university.
The 51ԹϺ community extends our condolences to her husband Mike, the entire Harter family, and her countless friends – including many university faculty and staff. I will work with her family and close friends to organize a campus event later this fall that will celebrate her life and contributions to 51ԹϺ.
We have lost an incredible colleague, a caring mentor, and a friend.
With sadness,
Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.
51ԹϺ President