Talk to Wooster
Spring 2007
The Stan Hales Years: 1995-2007
Staying centered
As
with any job, there are gray days, heavy with compromises and settling for
less. “Dealing with disappointing behavior from good people is discouraging,” Hales
says. “To achieve a successful outcome, I’ve learned that sometimes
you must overlook weakness in a person so that you can identify a strength.”
One of the ways Hales stays centered is through an unwavering commitment to at least four hours of weekly badminton play—not your ordinary backyard variety, but the highly competitive brand. Hales is a former national champion at the junior, open, and senior levels, who also served as president of the U.S. Badminton Association and as a deputy referee at the 1996 Olympic Games. At least twice a week, he sets up the net and swats the shuttlecock, usually with a developing young player whom he is mentoring.
To clear his mind, he often turns to Diane. “She is an independent and practical spouse who is not fooled by anyone,” he says. “In her quiet way, she helps me to see things honestly.” Another person he says he relies on to keep him on course is executive assistant Bettye Jo Mastrine, whose 22 years in the president’s office has been a “huge advantage.” Hales says he is also committed to keeping in touch with daughter Karen, associate professor of biology at Davidson College in North Carolina, and son Chris, an attorney in San Francisco.
As he looks back on his years at Wooster, Hales says he hopes his leadership will be regarded as a time of growth and improvement. “I’ve had the good fortune and privilege to serve with an excellent staff and an outstanding group of faculty.We shot for a higher trajectory during these years—one that may not be recognized for a while.”
Looking ahead, Hales says he plans to undertake a mix of consulting activities and also hopes to travel, read, and catch up on the things he had to put aside during the past 12 years (including sleep).
James R.Wilson ’63, chair of Wooster’s Board of Trustees, sums up the Hales years. “Wooster has reached new levels of academic achievement, national recognition, and financial stability under Stan Hales’ leadership,” he says. “We are grateful for his vision, his great energy, his hard work, and his unfailing dedication to the students of the College. As a result of the collective efforts of President Hales, the faculty, staff, and trustees during the past decade,Wooster is in a very strong position today.”
