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Cavin reflects on time at LB

Ryan Henson
The Commuter

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Rita Cavin expects to join the ranks of forgotten former presidents when she retires
Jan. 31.

At least that’s what she says, with her typical grin, “No one remembers past presidents.”

However, a leader who worked hard to build connections between LBCC and the community, led multimillion-dollar fund-raising campaigns that stimulated campus development, and who touched lives in personal, unseen ways will be hard to forget.

Some people on campus say they never knew her, rarely saw her or met her once or twice. She was a rather unseen president.

“Every president has his or her own management style,” said Lori Fluge-Brunker of LBCC’s marketing office. “Some govern by walking around and talking with people on campus, but that was not her way. (Cavin) seemed to be more involved in community relations and legislation – getting projects completed.”

She accomplished her four major projects – to make campus governance more participatory, for everyone to know how the budget goes together, for women to have more opportunities/responsibility, and to improve the facilities.

One of Cavin’s greatest concerns, however, was about students – that they would be exposed to a broader world than the Willamette Valley.

“The international experience is the biggest gap for students,” Cavin said.

It was the reason she “worked so hard on ‘the international part.’” Because “many families have been in this area for 150 years, and students have never left this county – never been to Salem.”

Cavin was concerned that they were missing the diversity she’d seen students experience on other campuses. She believes a broader world is vital to education, which is why she worked so hard on the international project.

As a result of her efforts, the first faculty member (Rob Lewis) will go to China in the spring as part of an exchange program, and the first Chinese students will arrive to take classes at LBCC this summer. Cavin will not be on campus when the exchange programs begin, but people will remember they began with her.

While she has had many successes, Cavin spoke with a tone of regret about enlarging Takena Hall. “I feel bad,” she said. “Takena was the next scheduled project when I came.” Enlarging Takena Hall will again be the next project on the schedule.

The exchange program, a health education building in Lebanon and Takena Hall are projects Cavin leaves for her successor.

Others will remember Cavin not just for fund-raising and legislation, but for more personal reasons.

Early in her presidency, Cavin learned of the death of Roxie Putman’s husband.

“What stands out in my mind,” Putman says, “is I was invited to her office for a private lunch. She just wanted to see how I was doing and to make sure my needs were being met in full. It was a kind and loving thing to do as a human being – not just as the president. It spoke volumes about her character, and it touched me very much.”

To Carla Raymond, Cavin was like “another loving grandma” who sent flowers and shared Raymond’s grief over the loss of her grandson three years ago.

Cavin’s assistant, Renee Windsor-White, will remember her as “the best boss ever!” An engraved paver bearing that sentiment will remain as her tribute.

Now, Cavin says, “It is time for traveling and enjoying a healthy lifestyle.”

Of all the things she accomplished, one thing that makes her particularly happy is “knowing that people finally stopped asking, “What is it like to be a woman president?”

She leaves as “just Rita, the sixth president of LBCC.”

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