A familiar face is back on campus.
Dr. Gardiner “Tuck” Tucker, 57, who spent eight months here last spring semester working as interim dean of students and director of housing, has returned to USF St. Petersburg.
This time, Tucker has taken on the position as interim regional associate vice chancellor of student affairs, after the departure of Dr. Julie Wong last month. His first official day on campus was Jan. 26.
During an interview with The Crow’s Nest, Tucker said that his previous time spent working here was one of the best professional experiences he has had, and he is happy to be back. Tucker expressed his admiration for the civic engagement he sees in the university and around St. Petersburg.
Tucker shares many of the same beliefs and expectations for student affairs as Wong. He worked under Wong for three years as assistant dean of students at University of Boulder in Colorado. When Wong created the position for dean of student housing here at USFSP, she recruited Tucker to fill it.
“The opportunity came up at the perfect time,” Tucker said.
Although he has only been back on campus for two weeks, Tucker has an agenda set for goals he would like to accomplish while he is here. He plans to continue building on the strengths the campus already has, but also to experiment with new ideas.
“Student affairs is the key unit for student success,” Tucker said. “When students are engaged [within the campus] they are more likely to do better.”
Tucker is also supportive of the campus strategic plan, which includes the plan to increase the student body to 10,000 students in the next 10 years.
“When you increase complexity, you add more resources and support for students that are already here,” Dr. Tucker said. “When you go to 10,000, then we’d have the revenue and the resources to serve all students better.”
Dr. Tucker has spent the last 17 years of his life living in Colorado with his wife Marcie Tucker. He received both a bachelor of arts in sociology and environmental studies and a master’s degree in counseling and human development from St. Lawrence University. His doctorate was in college student personnel administration from the University of Maryland College Park.
His main interests outside of work include traveling and staying active with sports, such as soccer and rollerblading. Dr. Tucker has traveled all over the world and says that his favorite destination is India.
