Bruce
Bullock Student Center
Julia
Shuck, posted Oct. 4, 2006
“I challenge each of us here today, [and those who aren’t]
to utilize this student center and follow Bruce’s example
of dreaming big, thinking big and always taking that extra
step to make ourselves and those around us much better than
we think we can,” said Louise Bullock at the dedication
ceremony of the Bruce Bullock Student Center and Auditorium
in Mumford Hall on the MU campus. The event was held on Sept.
29, at 3:30 p.m.
The Student Success Center will be equipped with internet-accessible
computers as well as wireless web, tables for small-group
project meetings and a person to assist with course work,
internships and other information. “The Student Success
Center will allow students to pick each other up and help
one another out, like Bullock did,” Chris Boessen, MU
Agriculture Economics professor, said.
Bruce Bullock, professor and chair of the Agriculture Economics
department, first started working at MU in 1980, where he
taught six different courses and led the Agriculture Economics
undergraduate program. He passed away unexpectedly last spring.
According to Michael Nolan, MU Division of Applied Social
Sciences Director, Bullock “loved arguing and debate.
He wanted students to think.”
Thomas Payne, Vice Chancellor and Dean of CAFNR, described
Bullock as being “committed to the education of young
folks. He wanted debate and excellence, but always cared about
his students,” Payne said.
“There are a few good teachers who can get students
involved, to interact, to exchange. Bullock was one of them,”
Boessen, who referred to Bullock as a friend, mentor and coworker,
said. Bullock encouraged Boessen, one of his former graduate
students, to get his masters. Boessen went on to receive his
doctorate, getting plenty of help from Bullock along the way.
According to Boessen, Bullock loved to teach. “He was
type of guy that he really liked to have a student come up
and have the courage to say ‘I don’t understand
this.’ That was more important to him than anything
else.”
Mike Monson, MU Associate Professor of Agriculture Economics,
summed Bullock up in two words: Think damnit! “I’m
pretty for sure I saw that on an overhead before.” Monson
also showed the 2006 CAFNR Week t-shirt, which has the initials
JBB on it in memory of Bullock.
Veronica Nigh, MU senior agribusiness management major, spent
three months with Bullock and his wife in the Czech Republic
while studying abroad. Nigh knew Bullock to push students
to, “think deeper, think wider, think differently.”
Following the dedication ceremony was a ribbon cutting, plaque
unveiling and reception.
