June 29, 2007 :: No. 244

John W. Bedell, Cal State Fullerton professor of sociology who currently chairs the Anthropology Department, is this year’s recipient of the Faculty Leadership in Collegial Governance Award.

A Cal State Fullerton faculty member for 38 years, Bedell is the first person in the university’s history to serve five terms as leader of the faculty advisory body, the Academic Senate.

President Milton A. Gordon presented the award before a large audience of  Bedell’s peers in the Academic Senate chambers. “Each of your terms was marked by significant accomplishments, including the establishment of a new campus civility statement, and the creation of new committees focusing on vision and academic quality, as well as campus facilities and beautification issues,” said Gordon.

The Faculty Leadership in Collegial Governance Award recognizes faculty members who have made significant contributions to collegial governance and the mission of the California State University.

Under Bedell’s leadership, the Academic Senate also undertook the review and development of new policies, procedures and programs while taking a systematic approach to reviewing and updating all the university policy statements for accuracy and currency.

“You have led us through difficult discussions … all in a spirit of collegiality, fairness, passion and, of course, with your wonderful sense of humor,” Gordon said.

Bedell was presented with a plaque and a check — which he, in turn, donated to the faculty fund that provides assistance to faculty members in need, memorials and flowers for colleagues who are ill.

With his wife, daughter and granddaughter in attendance, Bedell told the assembled group: “I am really, really surprised. I look around this room at all of you and I have so many great memories. My family and I moved to Southern California in 1969, and we have always lived in Fullerton. Since I started teaching at Cal State Fullerton, I have worked for four presidents and have seen so much change. Yet here, at this university, we have always had the ability to work on policies and programs that affect our faculty, staff and students.”

During his years at CSUF, Bedell has served several terms as chair of the departments of Sociology, Child Development, Electrical Engineering and, most recently, Anthropology. He also served as director of the Faculty Development Center, as well as acting vice president for academic affairs.

At the California State University system level, he was acting vice chancellor of academic affairs and chaired the statewide Academic Senate for three terms.

While taking on these leadership roles, Bedell has continued to teach classes that fill up quickly because students recognize him as an outstanding teacher.

“Jack’s classes have introduced thousands of students to sociology and shown them what it means to be taught by a master teacher,” said Gordon.

In addition to his work at Cal State Fullerton, Bedell has served on the Fullerton Civic Light Opera Board of Directors — as vice president and president; the Fullerton School District Board of Education — nine years as a member and two terms as chair; and the Orange County School Boards Association — as vice president. He also served as a trustee on the Orange County Board of Education, as well as secretary-treasurer, vice president and president-elect of the California County Boards of Education.

“I want to encourage the younger faculty members to become involved in programs and committees that affect the university,” he said. “And don’t be afraid to try even if you may lose. There’s life after loss. When I first ran for a seat on the Academic Senate, I lost. When I first ran for the executive committee, I lost. When I first ran for chair of the senate, I lost.

“But after I lost the chair’s race, I was asked by Jane Hipolito, [professor emeritus of English, comparative literature and linguistics,] who won the seat, if I would work with her. It’s that sense of collegiality that allows us to move forward.”

Bedell, a Fullerton resident, is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and earned his master’s degree and doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.

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