front&center Dr. Lance Grahn

LITTLE ROCK — In 1987, as a faculty member at Calvin College in Michigan, Dr. Lance Grahn took a research trip that changed his life.

He spent six weeks in Central America, mostly in El Salvador and Guatemala, researching the interplay of religion and politics as a historic feature of civil war.

At night he lay awake listening to the bombing of Guazapa Mountain near San Salvador. He visited a prison for political prisoners and refugee camps. He went to the University of Central America where he met Jesuit priests, who were murdered two years later by the military.

"I attended worship services at both Catholic and Protestant churches, which were losing members to death squads. It was very meaningful to attend services with people who were literally risking their lives to go to church. The Episcopal church was so far underground we never found out where it was," Grahn said.

It made him realize the importance of the freedom Americans sometimes take for granted. Not just religious freedom, but educational freedom as well.

Grahn, 56, is the new provost and dean of faculty at the University of Central Arkansas.

As provost Grahn is the chief academic officer for UCA, which means he is ultimately responsible for curriculum, instruction, staff and research activities.

"A common misconception about provosts is that we're bureaucrats. We're academics with administrative responsibilities on behalf of the academic enterprise, which is the core mission of any university," Grahn said.

For the past three months, his schedule has been full of meetings with faculty from UCA's various colleges and departments.

"Higher education makes a difference in that we prepare students for more than just a job. We prepare them for the fullness of adulthood," Grahn said.

He said his goal for this year is to understand just how much potential exists before launching a strategic planning effort to develop unique and worthwhile studies that will set UCA apart from other schools.

"I will find unique strengths on which I can build, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity," Grahn said.

Before arriving at UCA, Grahn was the dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. While there he developed the Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility.

It is the college's first standalone field research station located 200 miles north of the school. The facility not only promoted the school's strength of applied research, but made that research accessible to the public, which includes fish farmers and American Indian tribal fisheries.

"In addition to class, lab and studio instruction, as we prepare students for their adult life, we must do better at connecting their experience to the real world," Grahn said.

Grahn also spent 15 years on the history faculty at Marquette University. His career there included four years as director of undergraduate studies and then five as the history department chairman.

At Marquette University, Grahn received the Rev. John P. Raynor S.J. Award, which is the school's highest faculty award. His other favorite honor is the Faculty Excellence Award, which is was the inaugural teaching award completely administered by students.

"It's really something when students single you outas the top faculty at a university," Grahn said.

He said one of the biggest challenges facing public education is unifying all levels of education from pre-K to higher education.

"Our society needs all of us. We all have the same mission and we build on each other's success. I am who I am today because of the impact teachers had on me during elementary, junior high and high school," Grahn said.

He grew up in Denver, Colo., except for a few years in junior high when the family moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., for his father's career in the oil industry. His parents, Ray and Pat Grahn, still live in Lakewood, Colo., which is a suburb of Denver.

Grahn said he was a straight-A student and active in student government and honor society.

"I remember wanting to be two things growing up: a right fielder for the San Francisco Giants and a college professor. I still want to be a right fielder," Grahn said.

He graduated from Bear Creek High School in Denver and went to college at Abilene Christian University, where he met his wife, Dianne.

"We met on the first day of music-appreciation class during my last semester there. We both put that particular class off, but we thoroughly enjoyed it," Grahn said.

He graduated with honors and earned a bachelor's in history and Spanish. He went on to Texas Tech University for his master's in Latin American history and in 1985, earned his doctorate in Latin American history from Duke University.

His career has taken Grahn to Radford University in Virginia, Calvin College in Michigan, the University of Alabama and even to Brazil as a visiting lecturer at the Universidade Federal Fluminense.

Living in the sunny South isn't anything new for Grahn. His wife grew up in Plainview, Texas, and the couple spent several years living in Durham, N.C.

"I like Conway a lot. It has a thriving and identifiable downtown. When I was here in the spring it was almost like I was inDurham because the azaleas were in full bloom, and I immediately felt at home," Grahn said.

Tom Courtway, interim president at UCA, said he has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Grahn.

"Since coming to our campus and assuming the role of provost, he has impressed me with his knowledge and intellect on all facets of academic matters. More importantly he brings a smile to the table and is a calming influence on me with his calming demeanor, regardless of the topic. He is a professional in every sense of the word," Courtway said.

matter of fact I would like to meet: Former President Jimmy Carter because he's a man of integrity, intelligence, insight and compassion.

Someday I'll: Learn to fence.

The people I admire most are: Parents, ministers, U.S. Navy Seabees, teachers, faculty, musicians and chefs.

One word that describes me is: integrity.

I cannot live without: My wife, Dianne.

My biggest fear is: Spiders.

The world would be a better place if: We were all more compassionate.

One of my favorite memories is: A three-week Latin American studies conference in Sweden.

I am most comfortable in: An academic setting.

Other languages I speak are: Spanish fluently.

I can get by with my French, Italian and Portuguese.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 135, 136 on 10/26/2008