Mentor, Adviser and Educator for Students

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2010) - Since June, Robert Mock Jr. has embraced the University of Kentucky experience: biking across campus after hours to reconnoiter a deserted campus; learning the words and tunes of songs dear to all UK students and alumni; and greeting a growing number of familiar faces with their names and a warm smile as he walks to a meeting.

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UK’s new vice president for Student Affairs began his career in higher education at the University of Arkansas as a continuing education program coordinator in 1995 and in only 13 years was named associate vice provost for student affairs. In the interim, he was associate dean of Arkansas's College of Professional Studies, then student services division chief and director of recruitment and retention, then assistant vice chancellor for student affairs.

 Along the way, he developed recruitment and retention skills and a servant leadership style that yielded positive enrollment growth and increased retention rates, one of the most valued signposts along UK’s road to Top 20 status.

Mock is exceptionally fine tuned to the needs of the college student. After all, only last year Mock was a student himself at Harvard University's Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.

“I think it’s important that I am a mentor, an adviser and an educator for our students. To do this, I must be accessible to them – all students, not just the leaders – so I will be eating in their dining halls, walking across campus during breaks between classes, attending their events and visiting the Student Center regularly. Accessibility is the key to reaching our students; I want to be more than a suit,” said Mock.

He remained a faculty instructor throughout his tenure as a student affairs administrator and plans to teach a class next year, perhaps one that he taught at Arkansas, “African-American Identity in Black Greek Societies.”

“Our Student Affairs professionals are already doing a fine job meeting our students’ needs,” he said. “I was amazed for example by K Week – more than 300 events to help our new students adjust to campus life – and FUSION, which I am told is the single largest day of community service in the state. Imagine that! I am thrilled to be a part of all we do.” 

Mock wholeheartedly embraces UK’s Strategic Plan to become a Top 20 university; it was one of the reasons he pursued the position of vice president for Student Affairs at UK.

“The Top 20 goal gave me a sense that this institution has a mission and a vision that virtually everyone is aware of and committed to. You can say Top 20 to any individual on this campus -- faculty, staff and students alike – and everyone will know this is the university’s goal. It gave me the sense that there’s direction, there’s vision, there’s determination, there’s passion and there’s focus toward excellence. That sense of pride and ownership appeals to me.

“You won’t find the Strategic Plan setting on a dusty shelf in Student Affairs. In fact, it’s going to be pulled out so often the pages will be dog-eared,” he said. In the coming months, he wants the division’s units to develop their own “dashboards,” indices for their unique portfolio review and upcoming SACS reaccreditation review.

In a recent meeting with Student Affairs personnel, he promised two-way accessibility. “I like my walk-throughs, so I’ll be making frequent visits to your offices. You all know more than I do about what you do.” He plans to create a new position modeled after a Virginia Tech model to help troubled students, to invigorate a collaboration with Academic Affairs, to become more transparent regarding financial reports and to create standing committees and task forces to improve efficiency.

But there’s one element of the Strategic Plan that appeals to Mock’s deepest nature – outreach and service to Lexington and the Commonwealth.

Service to the nation and the community are simply a part of life for Mock, taught these values at his mother’s knee. He joined the military right after 9/11, going through basic training at age 37, “something I wouldn’t recommend,” and served in the Arkansas Army National Guard as a hospital administrative officer for eight years. He is “thoroughly impressed” by students’ and staff members’ passionate involvement in their community.

“The comprehensive nature of the UK campus – colleges of law, business, education, agriculture, design, the arts, the health sciences, and a new, cutting edge hospital – makes it a special place. All these resources, all these people are focused on one thing, serving the citizens of Kentucky. And they do it with a rare passion and devotion. I intend to be a part of that.”

And there’s a personal bonus, too. To the entire family’s delight, their move to Lexington brought them within a five-hour drive of both sets of grandparents. Mock’s wife, Bethany, works in the local Social Security Administration office. Their 9-year-old daughter Tahlya just started fifth grade, and the couple is taking the final steps to adopt their 2-year-old son Robert III.

“I’m living the dream, and there’s no place I’d rather be,” he said.