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Eakin to step down, teach history full time

KU's chief fiscal strategist, who's been working at the university for nearly 30 years, has announced plans to step down and teach full time in the Department of History.

William L. Eakin

William L. "Lindy" Eakin

William L. "Lindy" Eakin, vice provost for administration and finance, started working at KU in 1979 as a budget officer and rose to become budget director in 1989 before being named associate executive vice chancellor for administration and finance in 1991. A reorganization in 1996 to a provost model added responsibilities and a title change.

A 1974 KU business graduate, Eakin also earned master's and doctoral degrees in American history. On a part-time basis, he has taught classes for the past decade on the Spanish Borderlands, U.S. history and historical methods. He also holds a master's in business administration.

Diane Hoose Goddard, associate vice provost and comptroller, will be interim vice provost for administration and finance until the position is filled permanently.

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere thanked Eakin for his dedication to KU.

In doing so, he noted Eakin's key role in helping create the university's innovative Four-Year Tuition Compact. Introduced last year, the compact provides incoming first-time freshman with a fixed tuition rate for four years.

Eakin's responsibilities have included oversight of the campus fiscal functions including the Comptrollers Office — purchasing, payroll, accounting, bursar and financial reporting — and the Budget Office. In addition, the KU Card Center and Environmental Health and Safety have reported to Eakin.

Goddard has been associate vice provost and comptroller for the university since 2002.

Goddard joined the KU staff in 1984 as assistant director for administration at the Kansas Geological Survey. She was promoted to associate director of the survey in 1991, a position she held until 1994, when she was named associate comptroller. She became acting director of purchasing in December 1995 and assumed the position permanently in 1996.

Goddard received her bachelor's degree in economics from Southern Connecticut State University-New Haven and her master's of business administration degree from KU.

Her professional positions have included serving as chief accountant and controller for the Yale University health services and as business manager for the Yale University art gallery.

KU HISTORY:

One of KU's most recognized landmarks was unveiled on this day in 1924. The "Uncle Jimmy" Green statute that stands in front of Lippincott Hall, created by artist Chester French, honors KU's first law dean. James Woods "Uncle Jimmy" Green served as dean of the School of Law for 41 years. After his death in 1919, a group of law students and alumni, who referred to themselves as Green's "boys" commissioned the statue. French originally declined the request to create the statue but changed his mind after visiting KU and hearing stories of affection and commitment to "Uncle Jimmy." For more, see www.kuhistory.com.