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December 8, 2008

Former 网曝门 Dean of Pharmacy retiring after 34 years of service

Dr. William Bourn, long-time dean of 网曝门鈥檚 College of Health Sciences and current director of development for the College of Pharmacy, will retire at the end of the year following more than three decades of service.

Dr. Bourn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of New Mexico and completed his Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona in 1974. Almost immediately, he realized his dream of teaching and research in the field he enjoyed so much.

鈥淭here just weren't a whole lot of jobs around like that at the time, but there was one here and I鈥檝e been at 网曝门 ever since,鈥� said Dr. Bourn.

One of his greatest personal pleasures as a former dean was the opportunity to hand out degrees to his three daughters, all who entered health-related fields with degrees from 网曝门, and one who even earned a degree in pharmacy. In addition, his wife Marsha was also a 网曝门 staff member for 22 years and retired in 2006.

"Marsha has been a great partner all these years, and we've enjoyed a good life in Monroe and with 网曝门,鈥� said Dr. Bourn. 鈥淭hat was a pleasant time for us, that we were all at the same institution at the same time. It made for a real family-like atmosphere.鈥�

On a professional note, Dr. Bourn guided the development and implementation of 网曝门鈥檚 Doctor of Pharmacy program, overseeing the enrollment of its first students in fall 1998. Recently, the college received a full six-year accreditation extension through June 30, 2014, from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education

Dr. Bourn served as president of the Louisiana Pharmacists Association and has been a member of the governor鈥檚 Health Works Commission since 2002. For his work, he was honored with the Louisiana Pharmacists Association 鈥淧harmacist of the Year鈥� award in 2005.

Though his employment status might change, Dr. Bourn鈥檚 willingness to take on new challenges won鈥檛.

In addition to visiting his two grandchildren and becoming more involved in his church, Dr. Bourn is intensely interested in Cowboy Action Shooting 鈥� perhaps a remnant of Dr. Bourn鈥檚 childhood in New Mexico. The sport offers contestants the opportunity to compete with firearms typical of those used in taming the Old West.

Still, Dr. Bourn concedes he will miss the opportunity to teach. 鈥淚 think the interaction with students is what I鈥檒l miss most,鈥� he said. 鈥�... Just being around them was a pleasure.鈥�

Asked if there was anything he would change about his 34 years at the university, Bourn replied, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of anything 鈥� this is a great place to work. It's been a great ride.鈥�

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