Hargrove retires after 8-year stint

Arizona Daily Wildcat Jesse Hargrove, assistant dean for African American Student Affairs

"This has been a tremendous and exciting time for me and I think the time is right to move on to other things," said as he announced he was leaving the University of Arizona.

Hargrove, who came to the UA from the University of Wisconsin, said he resigned because he wants to spend more time with his wife, Carolyn, and his nine-week-old daughter, AnDrea Simmone.

The UA hired Hargrove in 1989 in response to student protests demanding more representation for African Americans in the administration.

Among his accomplishments as assistant dean, Hargrove initiated the annual campus-wide Dr. Martin Luther King celebration, opened the African American Cultural Resources Center, and developed numerous scholarship programs for African American students.

"I want to be remembered as someone who made a contribution by reaching out to diverse constituencies in the university and the community," he said.

Hargrove said he will move back to his hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., this summer. He said he looks forward to living in Florida so he can get reacquainted with family members.

"This is a great opportunity to start fresh in a new environment, make new friends, and catch up with old friends," he said.

Although he has no immediate plans for employment, Hargrove said he will use the free time to complete some of his writings on cultural diversity and bilingual education.

In his time at the UA, Hargrove has been a favorite personality among students and faculty.

Ashira Pace, a fine arts senior, said she was shocked by Hargrove's resignation.

"He was the best," Pace said. "He was never too busy for students and everybody loved him."

Dean of Students Melissa Vito said the UA will miss Hargrove because he has done an outstanding job of encouraging cultural diversity on campus.

"He has worked hard to build a lot of bridges among diverse groups of students," Vito said. "This networking is one of the most important legacies he will leave behind."

Robin Lemon-Soape, coordinate for African American Student Programs, will temporarily assume Hargrove's duties until a suitable replacement can be found, Vito said.

She said the search for a new assistant dean will most likely begin at the start of the fall semester.