The year was 2022, and Bill Pitney had made a remarkable decision.
Pitney would leave his six-year position as associate dean of Research, Resources and Innovation to return to the faculty of his home Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education: The call of his teacher’s heart “to revisit the thing that drew (me) here in the first place” had become too loud to ignore.
“Coming to NIU, I enjoyed creating learning experiences that were meaningful for our students,” he said at the time, “because there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing or observing our students make the connections between what they’re learning in the classroom and the real world. That was just so rewarding.”
Yet leadership, as it has many times during Pitney’s more than three decades on campus, would quickly beckon again. The sound was a familiar one for the man who served as NIU’s acting vice provost for Faculty Affairs in 2019 and as executive secretary of University Council and president of Faculty Senate for Fiscal Year 2015.
And, as always, he would humbly consider and accept the call.
When Laurie Elish-Piper moved to the Office of the Provost in 2023, Pitney said yes when asked to serve as acting dean of the College of Education.
Now, with new dean Mary E. Earick arriving July 1, Pitney will retire June 30.
“Having the responsibility of acting dean was an honor and a privilege. I think I look at it that way,” said Pitney, who joined NIU in 1994.
“But then, it was also an opportunity to maybe leave a mark and a legacy in terms of being fair, being a professional, trying to give our faculty and staff and other administrators the space to do what they do best,” he added. “I always try to be conscientious about that, and for me, this was really an exercise in working to be present. Folks count on you, and you’ve got to try to show up as the best version of yourself every day.”
Good times are ahead for the college, he said.
Earick, Pitney said, “is going to bring a new level of energy and direction for the college, especially in the area of partnership activity.”
Meanwhile, the continued presence of Associate Dean Todd Gilson as well as all six department chairs and most of the other college-level administrators will provide “a great leadership team carrying forward. I’ve been blessed to work with these folks – really good folks – and I see them carrying forward all the good work that they’ve been doing.”
Just look at what they’ve accomplished, he said.
“I reflect on where we’re at this year with our retention numbers, and I think we’ve done an amazing job supporting our students and being very intentional about that,” Pitney said. “And when I think of our enrollments this spring compared to past years, we’re trending in the right direction, and with those structures in place, I expect the college to be well-positioned and looked at as a leader across campus.”
Faculty will contribute to that as well, he added.
“Our faculty really impress me, and I view this as an opportunity for positive change,” he said. “With their willingness to collaborate with one another to see how we can continue to support our academic programs and the students who enroll in those, and to look at how we can continue to be relevant and meaningful with those academic programs, I expect really good things for the college.”
PITNEY, A NATIVE OF Peru, Ind., is grateful for his time on campus.
His résumé now reports a roster of honors that reflect his job performance.
- Director of the Athletic Training program in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
- The 2013 Outstanding Educator Award from the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association.
- The 2013 Dedicated Service Award from the Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association.
- The 2015 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).
- The 2016 Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator Award from NATA’s Executive Committee on Education.
The gratitude extends to countless interactions and professional responsibilities that nurtured his curiosity and knowledge, a self-described hunger to learn.
“I’ve always liked learning, and I’ve always liked learning the various components of various roles: Every position has some nuances, and some things that people don’t see. It’s like an iceberg – you see one part of it and not the rest,” he said. “And I think that’s the key. As long as you are willing to learn and grow and develop, you can accomplish lots of cool things.”
Among the lessons of the last two years was a confirmation of what he already knew – “that people are working incredibly hard at doing right by our students and supporting them to provide the best learning experience as possible.”
He also appreciated a close-up look at “what our faculty, staff and other administrators value and the level of their commitment. I’m proud of our folks.”
On the introspective side, he said, “I learned that’s it OK to make mistakes. It’s OK because everybody does. It’s OK not to have all the answers because nobody does, and I think I learned that it’s OK to give myself grace and just not be as hard on myself as I might have normally been. That was a hard lesson for me.”
Conquering that has yielded another realization.
“I’m capable of navigating some complex circumstances,” Pitney said. “I learned that as an associate dean as well, but I think I’ve confirmed that for myself now – that it’s possible to navigate difficult circumstances, act on your principles and still be yourself.”
Meanwhile, “I’m proud that I can look at anybody in our college and know who they are and what program they’re involved with and that I’ve probably discussed the good work they’ve done. I’m so proud of that. I’m proud that I’ve gotten to know people on a personal level.”
Not bad for a kid from a farming community who enrolled at Indiana State University to become a physical education teacher.
But after a class in athletic training sparked a new interest, intriguing him about his potential to work on a health care team, he went on to provide outpatient rehabilitation as a clinical outreach athletic trainer in the Detroit area, serving three high schools and their sports teams.
During his time as an athletic trainer at Eastern Michigan University, he earned a master’s degree in physical education and co-taught a class on therapeutic modalities (therapeutic interventions).
Later, while teaching at NIU, he completed his doctorate in adult continuing education.
And a quarter-century later, as this three-decade chapter closes, he is eager for what’s next.
“I want to take some time to myself. I want rest and relax and do some things I love, like cycling and walking the dog and hiking,” Pitney said. “I also look forward to traveling a little bit when possible – and then I might take a peek at other leadership opportunities elsewhere. We’ll have to see. I’ve got to figure that one out.”
