President Hencken isn’t leaving Eastern. He’s just trading in his office for a less demanding teaching position.

That’s why he doesn’t plan on getting too emotional at his Celebration of Dedication today, where he’ll be visiting with the campus community for one of the last times as Eastern’s president.

“I don’t think I will be emotional because of the fact that I’m going to continue to teach,” Hencken said. “I’m going to continue to see these folks.”

He plans to continue teaching at Eastern in Fall 2007.

“It is not my intention to die on July 1, so it’s not like I’ll be gone forever,” he said jokingly, adding that he does tend to make jokes when he gets emotional.

Hencken said he thought it was a little strange, at first, to have the reception so soon before his actual retirement, but he understands the reason.

Henken’s contract doesn’t expire until July 1, but by that time many students and faculty won’t be around to share their appreciation with Hencken, said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations.

“By May 6, all of our students will be gone and our faculty will be off doing things for the summer,” Nilsen said.

Today’s reception gives everyone a chance to visit with Hencken and his wife, Mary Kay, before the semester ends and the campus quiets down for the summer.

“There will be some emotions when I see people for the last time,” he said. “I love this job but I don’t know that I have the energy left to do this for the next few years.”

The Celebration of Dedication will be 3 to 5 p.m. today in the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.