Roger Callanan to retire from NC State

Dr. Roger Callanan was encouraged by his mother to “Always leave the room better than [he] found it.” For thirty five years, he has translated these words into action, playing an integral role in the evolution of the university and leaving a major impact on the NC State community. He has recently announced that the Fall 2015 semester will be his last; Callanan is set to retire,  effective January 1, 2016.

A deeply committed advocate for our students, Callanan most recently spearheaded the development of Student Ombuds Services, leading the process from inception to fruition and serving as Student Ombuds during the program’s first year. This vitally important resource serves as a personal guide for students as they navigate the often-challenging university experience.

Callanan has effected such positive change at NC State, always seeking to strengthen and unite our campus community. Where many would cringe or shy away, Callanan thrives. He has been active on campus, facilitating diversity training and engaging students, faculty and staff in learning how to participate in difficult conversations amidst challenging issues — the very conversations that are so often necessary to beget progress, growth, and learning.

Like many who are very passionate about a great deal of things, Callanan has not yet decided where the future will take him. He is hopeful, however, that he will have opportunities to use his experiences at NC State to benefit others in some capacity. Diversity, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, and relationship building are all areas of great interest. He envisions himself bringing his experiences to the greater community, perhaps by facilitating positive dialogue and teaching others to listen to one another in respectful, non-blameful ways. We can be sure that in his future endeavors, Callanan will elicit the same dedication and commitment that he modeled during his more than three decades on campus.

With certainty, Roger Callanan has left NC State immeasurably better than he found it. We wish him the very best.