Hencken has confidence in Perry
Walking back from the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union after William Perry was announced as Eastern’s new president, current President Lou Hencken was not alone.
“I had people say, I’ll walk back with you,” said Hencken. “I had a lot of people come up to me and say how are you doing?”
How Hencken is doing is very good.
“I felt very good, I think the board brought in three very good candidates,” said Hencken. “I remember when I said I was thinking about retiring, one of the reason was if you leave when the university is in great shape, you’re going to attract quality people and when I saw the three finalists, I thought, wow I was right.”
When Hencken decided to retire in the Fall, he said his decision was made not only in the best interest of the University, but of himself.
“It was a conscious decision that I made, that I felt was in the best interest of Lou and the University,” said Hencken.
When Hencken retires on June 30, he plans to spend his summer vacation traveling across the country. Travel destinations for he and his wife Mary Kay, include Las Vegas and Hot Springs Arkansas to play some golf. He also has some secret plans.
“We are very seriously contemplating, I hope my granddaughters don’t read the daily Eastern news,” said Hencken. “We are thinking about taking them somewhere, like Disneyworld.”
Once Hencken returns from Disneyworld, he plans to return to teaching.
Hencken currently teaches Administration and leadership in higher education, a class he will continue to teach in the fall, along with freshman foundations.
“I will be out hunting for a parking space like everyone else will be,” said Hencken.
Hencken will teach on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays, attend a staff meeting on Wednesday and has reserved Fridays for golf.
“Its something I want to do to keep active, I think I will be an even better teacher because I will have more time to plan,” said Hencken.
One thing Hencken will not be doing in the fall is calling President Perry.
“I told him, he will have to call me, I won’t be calling him,” said Hencken. “But if he says, I’m making a trip to California to meet some people, do you want to go with me? I will do it.”
