By Jared Fields, Managing Editor
Dr. David Hughes decided 40 years was long enough of a career in teaching.
Hughes, a professor of mathematics and computer science and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, gave co-workers business cards to tell of his decision to retire at the end of the semester.
“I intended to stay 40 or more years,” Hughes said. “I decided 40 was enough.”
Hughes has been the assistant dean for two years, but has served in the Mathematics Department as the chair of the department twice: once in the mid 80s.
The card Hughes gave co-workers, such as Colleen Durrington, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences who left after the fall semester, and David Hendricks, chair of the Mathematics Department, pictured an old, bearded man with a golf club.
“I Don’t Care!” the card read. “I Won’t Be Here Next Year Either!”
Dr. Jeff Haseltine, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, along with Hughes, gave Durrington a self-inking stamp that said, “I don’t care, I won’t be here next year,” as a gift.
“When he came over [to the dean’s office] that’s when I really got to know him,” Haseltine said. “He’s got a very dry sense of humor, and he’s also very intelligent.”
Outside of the Mathematics Department, Hughes’ role in the dean’s office has primarily dealt with curriculum and working with the Registrar’s office.
“He has really smoothed out some of our processes with the catalogue,” said Danelle Brand, registrar and director of academic records. “David is a very detailed person and an analytical person and has brought some continuity to the Arts and Sciences Department and that catalogue.”
Haseltine said Hughes’ historical knowledge of the university was invaluable for his position.
“He’s been at ACU for a long, long time, and his knowledge and recollection in what’s gone on in a lot of different areas has helped,” Haseltine said.
While Hughes’ position will need to be filled, the continuing search for a new dean will delay replacing Hughes.
“The first order of business is to replace [Durrington],” Hughes said.
Hughes said he has quite a list of things to do once he retires.
“I’m sure I will spend some time volunteering at the Christian Service Center,” Hughes said.
Along with volunteering, Hughes said he’s looking forward to playing golf, traveling and getting to a stack of books he wants to read.
Hughes hinted there may be a slight chance of his staying at ACU in some facility, although without a dean he cannot be sure of that.
Hughes isn’t the only person with those thoughts.
“My secret hope is that there might be some way for Dr. Hughes to continue on as a senior faculty member but have his part-time position here in these offices,” Haseltine said. “That’s my own per
