Adams State College welcomes back van de Boogaard (04-10-08)
After a six-year absence from Alamosa and Adams State College, Erik van de Boogaard said it "feels like home" to be back. van de Boogaard recently accepted the position as associate vice president of facilities planning, design and construction.
"I enjoy walking the campus again, seeing friendly faces everywhere," van de Boogaard said. "I feel so welcome by comments I get from faculty and staff that I had known prior to leaving."
According to van de Boogaard, while he was director of Adams State Facilities Services from 1998 until 2002, he oversaw 53 million dollars worth of construction projects on campus.
Bill Mansheim, vice president of finance and administration, said hiring van de Boogaard was critical. The college's capital fee increase will result in an additional 35 million dollars in construction on campus over the next few years and currently the 12 million dollar Plachy Hall project is underway. "Erik not only has experience, he was intimately involved in several big projects on our campus in the 1990s," Mansheim said. "We are really excited to have him back."
van de Boogaard accepted a position as assistant vice president for facilities services with Mesa State College in Grand Junction in 2002, and for the last two years worked with the Kiewit Building Group in Grand Junction. He said he is looking forward to reestablishing relationships with former Adams State colleagues and meeting new acquaintances.
van de Boogaard said he will begin prioritizing projects, big and small. He said he wants to gain a full understanding of where the campus is today and where it wants to be in the future. A task force of Adams State students, faculty and staff will meet on April 11 and begin to identify and prioritize goals and objectives. Plans will include building a new residence hall, and remodeling of campus dorms and apartments, academic buildings, and recreation facilities and athletics.
"I am ready to dive right in," van de Boogaard said.
By Linda Relyea
