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Dean Henken Reflects on Early Days at UW-Fond du Lac Campus
by Monica Walk
Williard Henken, 1968
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Visiting campus on a blustery November afternoon triggered a strong sense of familiarity for retired Dean Willard Henken, Ph.D. “I remember that wind,” the UW-Fond du Lac founding dean smiled. “Brings back memories.”
In actuality, Henken needs no memory aid. At age 80, his recall of the origins of the Fond du Lac campus is clear and articulate. “I can’t believe it’s been 40 years,” he said of the school he grew from the ground up in both bricks and programming.
Talk of a possible two-year campus in Fond du Lac had bounced around for several years before it became reality in 1968. The County Board’s gift of land—a former airport site—was pivotal, as were the efforts of the Wisconsin Coordinating Council for Higher Education and a Citizen’s Committee of Fond du Lac residents.
“The energy, wit and determination of the people in this city worked to make the campus a reality,” Henken stressed. “Once the decision was made, I was fortunate to become a part of it.”
He was a newly minted Ph.D. in education administration and a rookie faculty member at his Wisconsin State University-Oshkosh alma mater (back when Wisconsin had two state systems of higher education) when he was tapped for leadership in Fond du Lac.
Those fresh credentials were backed by years of applicable experience: building a private K-12 campus as superintendent in New Delhi, India; recruiting teachers and working on-site for a northern Nigeria teacher project as a graduate student; and, prior to world travels, serving seven years as Cedarburg High School’s principal—an “outstanding job” he was voted into before he had the chance to apply.
The Fond du Lac campus began as a branch of Oshkosh, a link Henken says helped create the new institution’s program statement and provided additional resources, including a large library.
“Oshkosh was growing rapidly, and a campus like this served a useful purpose for those not ready for a larger campus,” Henken noted. “It also provided quality education at a reasonable price.
This was not second best—this was a different choice. It was just as rigorous of a program, but without the large numbers. We had to be sure people knew the quality here.” Initially, he spread the word himself by visiting local high schools; soon enough, satisfied students from Wisconsin State University-Fond du Lac Branch did the advertising. The campus opened with only freshman classes and grew class offerings with the continuing students, another strategy for ensuring quality. This quality was achieved with speed: ground breaking was Sept. 27, 1967, and classes began Sept. 9, 1968.
“We opened amid the sound of construction. The Governor attended our dedication and noted, ‘You still have some things to do’,” chuckled Henken, whose building plans and positioning purposefully created a sense of campus, even on a small scale. The facilities were deemed modern in every respect. “But, it was a thrill to open the campus. I made a point of being here to see the first students walk in. Students breathe life into an institution; they are the lifeblood.”
Dean and Mrs. Henken have remained committed to supporting
the UW-Fond du Lac campus in many ways, including
sponsoring an annual scholarship. Dolores Henken (left) and
Dean Henken met one of the many UW-Fond du Lac students
who has benefitted from this scholarship over the years.
Joey Kunde (center) was able to thank the Henkens personally
at a recent scholarship reception at UW-Fond du Lac.
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Once the campus was operational, Henken turned his attention to instruction and staffing. “It was a positive switch: I became involved with people and not things,” he says. He remained focused on continued quality for 19 years, and his tenure included the education of his own three children. He credits high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Dolores, for encouraging his professional endeavors. He retired at age 60 in 1987.
Former students still recognize him. “Hearing that they really enjoyed their time on campus, and that they are so glad they attended, makes my work worthwhile,” Henken said. “Those of us in education talk about these ‘intangibles’…seeing students grow, mature and gain self-confidence…reading about them, and finding out what they are doing and the successes they are having…hearing them say they are doing well and are glad they came here. These are the things that make me feel good, and make it all worthwhile.”
Now retired for 20 years—a year longer than his fruitful deanship—Henken remains connected to campus as a scholarship sponsor and attends a variety of events. He visits occasionally with current Dean Blankenship and faculty members, some of whom he hired.
Henken also is serving as honorary co-chair of the steering committee for the UW-Fond du Lac 40th anniversary celebration in 2008-09, an event made possible by his positive and professional grounding of this campus, and the memories he shares with so many.
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