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from the issue of May 1, 2008
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Griffin to retire after 22 years
BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Beth Griffin has left a quiet impact on the chancellor's office - and on the last six UNL chancellors.
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| | | SPOKE IN THE WHEEL - Beth Griffin, executive secretary/administrative assistant to the chancellor, is retiring after 22 years of service to UNL. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.
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During one of his early days as chancellor, Graham Spanier walked into the second-floor, Canfield Administration Building office and was ready to get to work. Griffin had another idea.
"Beth took one look at me, asked if I needed a hair cut and - before I could contemplate it - she told me with a smile who would be cutting my hair and when," said Spanier. "I knew then that I would not likely go astray."
For the last 22 years, Griffin has been executive secretary and administrative assistant to UNL's chancellors. Her announcement that she will retire in May prompted her former bosses and colleagues to reflect on her success in a demanding and vital role at the university, and her firm, but gentle manner.
"As I've been getting older, this decision has been weighing on my mind," Griffin said. "Most people my age have been retired for 10 years or so. It's just time for me to do something else."
Griffin came to the university through "happenstance."
After working at First National Bank as a secretary for 10 years, Griffin's boss retired in October 1976. During one of his final lunch meetings, the chairman of the University of Nebraska Foundation - who was also retiring - was a guest and asked Griffin if she would like to come work for the new chairman, Woody Varner.
| | AT WORK - Beth Griffin and Chancellor Harvey Perlman discuss his upcoming schedule. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.
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Griffin was unsure, but went to listen to Varner talk to the Seward Chamber of Commerce.
"I just wanted to see what he looked like, get a feel for who he was," Griffin said. "He identified me in the audience and we had a brief interview there at the Civic Center."
After a formal interview, Griffin was hired. She worked for Varner in the NU Foundation office from 1977 to 1986. Varner also served as the university's chancellor and president from 1970 to 1977.
"I remember helping Mr. Varner with letters asking for support of the Ross Theater, Lied Center, enlarging the engineering college - those types of projects," Griffin said. "I've been here to watch them become reality.
"I get a great sense of pride being a part of the advancement of the university."
She came to the chancellor's office after Varner's retirement.
Martin Massengale was visiting with the new NU Foundation chairman Bill Wenke in 1986 when he stopped to ask Griffin is she would be interested in working in his office.
She interviewed - writing her first and only resume - and was hired.
"It's kind of embarrassing that I've never really had to apply for a job," Griffin said. "I was just in the right place at the right time."
Massengale, now a professor and director of the Center for Grassland Studies at UNL, has never questioned the Griffin hire.
"Hiring Beth was one of the greatest decisions I made as chancellor," Massengale said. "The real credit goes to Woody (Varner) for bringing her to the university."
When you ask Griffin about her job, she's quick to say she didn't do anything really important - maintaining the chancellor's schedule, planning meetings, collecting information for speeches, setting travel arrangements, monitoring expenditures and organizing files. She also helps plan campus events including honors convocation and the three annual commencement exercises. Not to mention running errands and even emptying the chancellor's trash can.
"My role has really been to help the chancellors get their job done," Griffin said. "I'd rather be the spoke than the wheel."
To the chancellors, her work has been invaluable.
"Beth has served so many chancellors well," said Chancellor Harvey Perlman. "She is efficient, competent, but more importantly, loyal. She understood her role was to make the chancellor look as good as the occupant would permit.
"For me, she has been not only an assistant, but a confidant and friend."
James Moeser still relies on "Beth" to offer guidance in his duties as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"I have named the voice on my car's GPS 'Beth' because it so strongly reminds me of her - politely, but firmly, telling me where to go," Moeser said. "Seriously, Beth was one of the most competent, even-keeled professionals I have ever worked with.
"She could keep a confidence, and I knew that she always had my back."
As for the future, Griffin will continue to enjoy living on an acreage near Seward and spend time with family, including her 101-year-old mother. She will also help with office work for her son-in-law's online fishing lure business, (realbait.com), and will continue to be a follower of Husker athletics.
"I'm going to miss the wonderful people I've worked with at UNL and the beauty of this campus," Griffin said. "I want everyone to know mine has been a wonderful career. I have been grateful for the help everyone has offered - this really isn't a job that you can do alone."
Beth's Chancellors
UNL Chancellors that Beth Griffin has worked for include:
• Martin Massengale - 1987 to 1991
• John Goebel (interim) - 1991
• Graham Spanier - 1991 to August 1995
• Joan Leitzel (interim) - August 1995 to February 1996
• James Moeser - February 1996 to Aguust 2000
• Harvey Perlman (interim) - August 2000 to April 2001
• Harvey Perlman - April 2001 to today
Beth Griffin: In their words
"Beth has a unique relationship to the university having served the leadership since Woody Varner. She knows the people inside and outside the university. When I became chancellor, I feared the hardest task would be to prioritize what was important from what was not. Beth knew from experience. There was often the, 'Chancellor, I accepted this appointment because it was something I know you would want to do.' More than not, I hadn't a clue - but she was always right.
"Beth took it as her personal mission to make certain the chancellor was where he should be. Recently I walked out of the office indicating to her I was going to get lunch. Standing in line at Wendy's, I got a cell phone call from Beth. 'Did you decide not to go to your meeting at the (Nebraska) Union?' Whoops. Saved again!
"The university will miss her steady hand on the helm of this office. So will I."
--Harvey Perlman
"Beth was, in many ways, the anchor of the chancellor's office. I think she would keep her dignity and bearing in the midst of a hurricane - or in the case of Nebraska, a tornado.
"You could always count on Beth. I would trust her with my life.
"Beth is a treasure."
-- James Moeser
"Let's face it. Beth really ran the university - and made chancellors look good - for decades. From Woody Varner on, we have all been indebted to Beth.
"Beth was a masterful administrator, a humanitarian, a friend to all, a model of hard work and efficiency, and as dedicated to UNL as anyone could ever be. She hinted that I would be the last chancellor she would ever train, but it took two more successors to finally wear her out.
"Beth had all of the qualities of a traditional executive secretary while developing a go-with-the-flow adaptability and sense of humor about the new era of information technology and changing student mores. She probably had the last typewriter on campus, and she didn't need a computer to keep track of my life in 15-minute increments.
"Her judgment was exceptional, her intuition unparalleled. She protected me, nurtured me and made me look good. There will never be anyone like Beth Griffin."
-- Graham Spanier
"Beth was an exemplary worker and a great role model, professionally and personally. She really has a wonderful personality, always cheerful and upbeat. Beth really created a esprit de corps in the office.
"Beth was able to work behind the scenes and get things done. She was always thinking ahead, making sure I was up to date and getting things in on time.
"She also remembered, and genuinely cared about the individual. She made a point to ask people about their family and how they were doing, how things were going.
-- Martin Massengale
"When I first went to work for chancellor Martin Massengale in 1988, Beth Griffin set the tone for the office. The best way I can describe it was an air of welcome formality. I was convinced that Beth had been educated at a Swiss finishing school and was startled to learn that she was a farm kid - from Seward no less.
"For four chancellors and two interims, Beth kept the office on an even keel.
"With her retirement, UNL will miss many things - but most of all, UNL will miss a very classy lady."
-- Herb Howe, Associate to the Chancellor, 1988 to 2007
GO TO: ISSUE OF MAY 1
NEWS HEADLINES FOR MAY 1
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SPRING AFFAIR
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