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Chancellor Michael Hooker and Provost Richard J. Richardson resumed their job
duties June 1, both returning from two-month medical leaves -- Hooker to
continue treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Richardson to recover from a
heart attack.
Both administrators are glad to be back to work.
"This was the first time in my adult life that I haven't gone to the office
every day and, I have to say, I didn't like it," Hooker said. "It's great to be
able to focus on the University we all love."
Said Richardson: "I'm grateful to be back, to work again at a place where I've
had so many fabulous years."
While Richardson is back in his office, Hooker is working primarily from his
home. That's so he can conserve his strength while continuing to undergo
treatment during the summer at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md.
"The treatments are difficult, but my doctors tell me I'm making progress and,
that by striking the right balance between my job responsibilities and taking
care of myself, I should be able to manage both," Hooker said.
Along with working at home, Hooker said, that balance includes limiting his
public appearances, something his doctors have recommended.
"Not only can appearances be fatiguing, there's a risk of exposure to
infection," Hooker said. "And while my treatment is working in terms of my
long-term health, it weakens me physically in the short term -- so it's
important that I stay away from situations that could lead to an infection."
Thanks to e-mail, web access and conference-call capability, Hooker has -- at
least temporarily -- joined the ever-growing number of Americans known as
"telecommuters," employees who work at home and stay in touch with colleagues
and on top of their to-do lists via electronics. Hooker, a longtime advocate of
using technology in the classroom and workplace, said it's a particularly
effective arrangement for him.
"E-mail is the perfect mode of communication for a cancer patient," Hooker
said. "It allows you to stay in touch and stay informed and, at the same time,
guard your health."
But being plugged into his job doesn't mean that Hooker works with colleagues
only in the virtual world. He led a June 7 meeting of his cabinet from home
and, in the days since, has spent much of his time there meeting with
individual members to get detailed updates on campus projects and initiatives.
On June 15, he led a half-day retreat with the cabinet.
But Hooker said he knows that he must not push too hard given his ongoing
treatment, and top administrators will continue to take lead roles on issues as
he deems appropriate.
Hooker once again thanked everyone in the University community for the support
he's received since being diagnosed early this year with non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma.
"I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the support I've received from so many
people," Hooker said.
Campus support also has buoyed Richardson, who since his June 1 return has
received a steady stream of colleagues and friends coming to wish him a speedy
recovery.
"I feel nothing but gratitude for the support I got from faculty, staff and
students," he said. "I was overwhelmed by the expressions of support and
concern."
The heart attack has forced some changes in the provost' life, both in general
and at the office. Richardson said he's changed his diet and made a point to
exercise more. Work-wise, the one thing he has changed is his schedule, which
had reached the point of nearly round-the-clock meetings and obligations.
"People started scheduling breakfast meetings for me to attend," Richardson
said. "Well, to make a breakfast meeting means I have to get up at 5:45 a.m.
Then if I have a dinner meeting, I don't get home until 10 p.m. After that sort
of day I haven't had time to do anything else."
So he has cut out most of his night meetings.
His greatest regret about his illness was that it coincided with Hooker's
medical leave.
"No one can help the timing of these things, but I needed, and wanted, to be
here for Michael," he said.
During his absence, Richardson kept abreast of the work being done in the
provost's office. He had regular telephone conversations with then-Acting
Provost Edward F. "Ned" Brooks, but succeeded in distancing himself from the
day-to-day concerns of his office to concentrate on his recovery.
He said he returned to work feeling good physically and with a renewed sense
of purpose. Having announced years ago that he planned to step down from the
post in June 2000, he's now focused on making his last year as provost a
success.
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