September 20, 1999
LAWRENCE -- Andrew P. Debicki, dean of the University of Kansas Graduate School and International Programs since 1993, will retire effective July 30, 2000, KU officials announced today.
Debicki, 65, a university distinguished professor of Spanish and Portuguese, will remain on the faculty. He will teach and conduct research in the humanities, Western civilization and Spanish and Portuguese departments. He is an internationally known scholar of modern Hispanic poetry.
"Andy Debicki's more than 30 years of service to the university and to the community has been extraordinary," KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said. "His tireless work on the behalf of students,and in the leadership of faculty, is deeply appreciated."
"We will miss Andy's administrative leadership in the Graduate School and International Programs, where he has contributed vast amounts to the university's mission," Provost David Shulenburger said. "We are very fortunate that he intends to maintain his exceptional scholarly career at KU. I look forward to continuing our faculty relationship."
Shulenburger said he expected to form a search committee within the next few weeks to begin the selection of Debicki's replacement.
As dean, Debicki led the Graduate School to emphasize education and career preparation of individual graduate students. He helped develop mentoring guidelines as well as new systems of assessment and review. During his tenure, the Graduate School organized many workshops and symposiums for program directors and student leaders, working in cooperation with various KU schools and departments to prepare KU for national changes in graduate education. The Office of International Programs helped coordinate many programs designed to make KU a stronger international university. Several new programs to support KU faculty members' international research and teaching were created.
"It has been an extraordinary privilege to complete my career by serving in the administration of the University of Kansas and striving to help its faculty and graduate students develop their careers and realize their potential," Debicki said. "I am especially grateful to Chancellor Hemenway and Provost Shulenburger, my colleagues in university administration and the exceptional staff in our offices for their guidance and support."
The son of a Polish refugee who was raised in Cuba, Debicki came to KU in 1968 as a professor of Spanish and Portuguese. He was named distinguished professor in 1976. He co-directed KU's Center for Humanistic Studies and was the acting chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. He directed the Hall Center for the Humanities from 1989 to 1993 when he was named dean of the Graduate School. He served as vice chancellor for Research, Graduate Studies and Public Service from 1994 to 1996.
In 1996, Debicki and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, began a graduate fellowship with a gift to the KU Endowment Association. Mary Elizabeth Debicki retired in 1996 as director of KU's Office of Study Abroad.
Contact: Tom Hutton, (785) 864-8866 or hutton@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu.