Dr. Phyllis Frakt with Sanda students

At a reception in her honor, Dr. Phyllis Frakt was feted for her 32 years of service to Rider University by faculty, staff, administrators, President Emeritus Bart Luedeke, and a choir comprised of Rider’s 50 Sanda students.

Retiring from Rider June 30, Dr. Frakt, vice president for academic affairs and provost, will continue to serve the University over the next year as a consultant to play an important role in Rider’s Middle States Accreditation visit next spring.

“Phyllis has made a magnificent impact on Rider and leaves us with an invaluable living legacy that is the academic foundation of our renewal,” said President Mordechai Rozanski. “Her focus has been on advancing academic excellence in student learning and all of it in collaboration with our talented faculty and staff. My recounting her accomplishments is not a declaration of goodbye but merely an opportunity to celebrate her many good works.”

Dr. Frakt’s career at Rider began in 1974 when she joined the political science faculty. She has subsequently served as associate dean, Liberal Arts and Science and associate vice president of academic affairs and associate provost. She was appointed the University’s top academic officer in 1995.

President Rozanski reflected on Dr. Frakt’s numerous accomplishments which have included introducing 15 new degree programs, and more than 30 minors, concentration and tracks. Some of the key milestones he noted were her role in championing the merger of academic and student affairs which fostered the traumatic increase in co-curricular activities such as the University Lecture Series and learning communities; overseeing the assessment project to improve student learning, a project that has grown to include 29 academic departments and programs; initiating faculty development day and programs to support the scholarship of teaching and learning; establishing the Undergraduate Research Scholar Awards; and spearheading Rider’s highly successful and growing partnership with Sanda University.

Adding special touches were Pat Lutz, Frakt’s executive assistant; Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Sciences Joe Nadeau; Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Julie Karns; President Emeritus Luedeke, who all recalled warm and witty moments with Frakt. A special highlight came when the Sanda students sang a Chinese song, titled, “The Same Song,” a popular song in China which roughly translated expresses love, understanding, bonding and trust among people from various backgrounds as well as a hope for a bright future.

Knowing of her love for gardening, the arts, and her pursuit of relearning French, Frakt was surprised by a host of gifts from scores of her colleagues and friends that reflect her passions – one of which was a trip for two to Paris with her husband, Alan Hershey. One of her greatest passions, however, is Rider University.

Even if I gradually become a somewhat less intense observer, I have great interest and confidence in Rider’s progress,” said Dr. Frakt. “After a long goodbye that officially began last September,” she continued, “I hope you will not be disappointed to run into me on campus next year.

“Two lesser known Harold Arlen songs match this situation. I don’t know the melodies or the lyrics, but the titles are fitting. One song is entitled with the question, “Does This Go on Forever?” and the other one has an answer. It’s called, “I Don’t Think I’ll End it All Today.”