SLU's Coakley to retire after 27 years at university

CANTON — Thomas F. Coakley will retire as St. Lawrence University's vice president for administrative operations in March, after 27 years at the institution.

College President William L. Fox sent a message to the campus community recently thanking Mr. Coakley for his service and outlining a plan to restructure several administrative positions to take over his duties.

Mr. Coakley told Mr. Fox about his intention to retire shortly after Mr. Fox was chosen to be the next college president. He agreed to remain at the college until March 1 to give the administration time to plan for his departure.

Instead of hiring for Mr. Coakley's position, SLU will shift responsibilities to several other administrators, Mr. Fox said.

"This retirement comes at a time when all of us are looking for ways to redistribute responsibilities, maintain excellence and save resources," Mr. Fox wrote. "I am grateful to many for their willingness to take on new duties, and therefore I have decided to eliminate the position of vice president for administrative operations."

Mr. Coakley was unavailable for comment Friday.

"We're looking to be as efficient as possible and realign things in the ways that make the most sense to see where we can realize some efficiencies, including saving some money we hope, in the long run," college spokeswoman Macreena A. Doyle said. "The position Tom holds is somewhat unique. There isn't necessarily a VP-level person in every college that has the scope of projects that Tom does."

A Canton native, Mr. Coakley attended Brown University before joining the Army and serving in the Vietnam War, where he met his wife, Nellie E., a nurse.

The veteran went on to earn his master's of business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania before joining St. Lawrence as a professor of economics in 1982.

Mr. Coakley served as the college's director of personnel services and assistant vice president for business and finance before being promoted to his current role in 1996.

"So much of St. Lawrence's progress over the past decade can be attributed to Tom's insightful leadership," Mr. Fox wrote. "Perhaps most importantly, Tom offers the university a humane, compassionate and reasoned sensibility when we have issues before us that require the best thinking."

In his time at SLU, Mr. Coakley led renovation and construction projects and helped to found the Canton Initiative. He has served on the boards of both the Canton and St. Lawrence County chambers of commerce, and was president of the former for a term.

Mr. and Mrs. Coakley were both featured in a best-selling book written by news anchor Tom Brokaw, entitled "Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today."

Mr. Fox said Mr. Coakley's duties will be split as follows:

■ Lisa M. Cania will be promoted to a new position as vice president for community and employee relations, and will oversee human resources, government and media relations and the Canton Initiative. Her role with the university Board of Trustees will also be greater as she continues to work with the Alumni Executive Council.

■ Michael P. Archibald, vice president for university advancement, will oversee publications and Web services.

■ Daniel B. Seaman, director of facilities operations, will report to the president and will be in charge of sustainability.

■ Kathryn L. Mullaney, vice president for finance, will take over leadership of the Brewer Bookstore and the University Inn, as well as overseeing Campus Support Services.

■ Joseph A. Tolliver, vice president and dean of student life, will supervise dining services.

"This is in the middle of the academic year, so this is how things will be for the present time. That's not to say that things will remain in this configuration forever," Ms. Doyle said.