 "Photo: Courtesy of the Office of Public Relations")
After 20 years of dedicated work, David E. Hollowell, executive vice president and treasurer of the university, plans to step down after his final semester in December of 2007.
In 1988, Hollowell left his home in Massachusetts to join the university as senior vice president for the administration. Some of his duties included budget planning, administrative computing and managing personnel and facilities.
He was promoted to executive vice president in 1996 and became treasurer in 2002.
University President David P. Roselle stated in an e-mail message that for the last 20 years, Hollowell has been at the center of many highly successful projects.
"It is fair to say that he has been a major contributor to almost every improvement in budgeting, personnel issues, the administration and the physical plant that has occurred at the University of Delaware during his long tenure," Roselle said. "I think that his overall contributions are too many and too great to single out just one."
Over the years, Hollowell has tripled the budget from $242 million in the Fall of 1988 to $743 million in the Fall of 2008.
The endowment has grown from $1 billion to $1.5 billion, he said. Approximately $900 million have gone toward the development of future and existing construction projects and renovations.
Hollowell has not only helped improve physical features on campus, but has also helped improve morale. Hollowell said when he began his work at the university, there was some unhappiness and frustration due to salaries and facilities not being satisfactory to the university staff as well as weak information technology systems.
The university has undergone major improvements since Hollowell was hired. One such transformationincludes an integrated student information system in 1991 and one of the first one-stop student services buildings in the country.
"We've had well over a hundred institutions come and visit us and talk about that," Hollowell said. "We've gotten to be known as a place that does student services things better than other places."
Hollowell said every staff member plays a crucial role and his job is to make sure everything comes together and runs smoothly.
"I've been more of the role of the conductor in an orchestra," Hollowell said. "Every member of the orchestra is an expert at what they do and all you're really trying to do is make sure that they're all working together. That's more of what my job has been."
Margot Hsu Carroll, assistant to the executive vice president and university treasurer, stated in an e-mail message she began working as Hollowell's assistant seven years ago after working at Harvard University for 13 years. She said Hollowell provides people with the necessary resources, points them in the right direction and encourages them to think critically.
"I will especially miss his personal thoughtfulness, such as the summer that I was pregnant with my twins," Carroll said. "He surprised me one morning by offering me a parking spot right next to the building. I know he will be missed by all."
Sharon L. Turner, administrative assistant in the office of the executive vice president and university treasurer, stated in an e-mail message she has been working as Hollowell's administrative assistant for six years. Turner said Hollowell is a genuine person with straightforward and honest qualities.
"He has accomplished extensive building, renovation and architectural dimension to our campus, not to mention his extensive knowledge in the finance sector," she said. "We will miss him greatly as he moves forward into the next phase of his life."
Hollowell also aided in the completion of The Green as it was originally envisioned 90 years ago. Hollowell was vital in resurrecting Georgian-style architecture in the construction of Gore Hall and in the expansion of DuPont Hall, as well as expanding the landscaping plans first designed in the 1920s.
"It's been a lot of fun doing different kinds of things and to be able to address a lot of different needs as opposed to having one grand edifice to point to," Hollowell said.
In addition to his extensive renovation and construction work, he said hehas participated in the Society for College and University Planning and was awarded the society's Distinguished Service Award in 1997 for his service and dedication to SCUP's goals. The international organization is comprised of more than 4,000 members in all areas of academic planning.
In 2005, Hollowell became an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects for his role in campus expansion and renewal for the university and Boston University. Also during that year, he was named honorary member of the Delaware Chapter of American Institute of Architects.
"When I get involved in something, I get involved with it," Hollowell said. "If I'm not going to invest my time in it, I won't. I enjoy working with different people and making things happen."
He said he is a workaholic, often working from 8 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. and sometimes coming in on the weekends.
Before coming to the university, Hollowell earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering and an M.B.A. at Boston University and served there as the vice president of administration.
Hollowell's future plans include moving back to New England with his wife Kathleen, who recently retired as director of the Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center at the university.
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