Tony Voisin to retire after four decades at CMU
After four decades at Central Michigan University, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Tony Voisin will be retiring on July 6.
Voisin has been a part of the CMU campus community since he became a student in 1980. However, his roots at CMU go back further. Both of his parents are from the Mount Pleasant area and his grandmother worked at the University Center. He met his wife while attending CMU and his children are alumni.
Voisin will leave behind four decades of achievements and a lifetime of experiences at CMU.
"This is where my heart was, this is where my passion was," Voisin said. "I grew up with (CMU) in my blood."
Voisin said he first thought of retiring last year but decided against it because of COVID-19. He said there was no way he could leave CMU knowing what the community was about to go through in 2020.
After everything that occurred this year, like vaccine distribution, Voisin thought the summer of 2021 would be a perfect time to retire. He believes Student Affairs will be in good hands after he retires.
"I think now is the right time, and I feel it's time for me to hand the reins over to other folks," Voisin said. "We have great people within my division that I get to work with who are ready for these challenges."
Voisin said his retirement is not related to investigations being conducted within Student Affairs. He said he would not have been able to choose a retirement date if this were the case.
"No one has asked me to retire," he said. "I'm just getting ready for it."
In a University Communications press release President Bob Davies said Voisin's name is synonymous with CMU. He also said Voisin's devotion to the students is unparalleled.
"Our university is a better place because of him," Davies said. "he is truly leaving a legacy."
For Voisin, it's hard for him to associate his name with the word "legacy." He said his career has been marked by the positive relationships he had with coworkers and CMU students. He hopes he has been able to give other people the same connection and sense of community he feels with CMU.
"If you want to call it a legacy, I hope I've been able to contribute to those types of relationships with other people," Voisin said.
Although he is retiring, Voisin is not leaving the CMU community completely behind. He will still come to campus when he can. He said he does not want to miss any athletic games or concerts that may occur on campus.
However, Voisin said he will miss the impacts and contacts he had with students before retiring.
"I won't fall away and not continue to have an association with CMU," Voisin said. "I'll still be there, it's who I am."
Voisin hopes his successor will be able to tailor Student Affairs to benefit students. He said CMU's Student Affairs has a strong reputation, so the candidates will be very qualified and skilled.
He hopes his successor will be able to take the Department of Student Affairs to the next level for the benefit of CMU as a whole. Voisin said he is excited for his colleagues and the students of CMU.
"I think we have a great foundation," Voisin said.
CMU will be soon be conducting a national search to find Voisin's successor.
