Former SMU vice president dies

by PegNews wire

James E. Caswell, former vice president for student affairs at Southern Methodist University, died today at the age of 66.

Caswell - an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church - was a nationally-recognized leader in student affairs who spent almost 50 years at SMU as either a student, teacher or administrator.

President R. Gerald Turner states in a press release: "Jim Caswell devoted his professional life to the well-being of our students, providing them with a campus experience that would strengthen their educational and personal development... he exemplified the values of our religious heritage and served as official liaison to the Church. Generations of students benefited from his leadership, thoughtfulness, and caring manner. They showed their appreciation by honoring him with many University service awards, and have stayed in touch with him as a friend and mentor. We will miss his presence among our University family, but his impact on our campus will endure. Our heartfelt prayers go to his family and other loved ones.”

Dr. Caswell retired from his Vice President of Student Affairs position at the university in May of 2007.

"I had the pleasure of working with Jim Caswell for many years and through many changes in student life at the University,” says long-time SMU trustee Ruth Sharp Altshuler, former chair of the Board of Trustees and of its Student Affairs Committee. “Students benefited from his wisdom and fairness, and he was very effective in working with parents. Jim was calm and unflappable, two prerequisites for his position. He made SMU a better place.”

That's quite a tribute.

A viewing will be held at Restland Memorial Park on Wed., Oct. 24 at 5 p.m.; Highland Park United Methodist Church will hold a memorial service for Dr. Caswell at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Caswell Endowment for Leadership Development and Training, or to the American Cancer Society.

source: SMU