After graduating 30 years earlier, Alan Timmins returns to The Bluff once again
(Jackie Jeffers -- The Beacon)
By Natalie Wheeler Staff Writer wheelern12@up.edu
From 1977 to 1981, Alan Timmins lived in the same Kenna dorm room all four years of his undergraduate career.
"Financial people tend to be creatures of habit," Timmins said. "But, you know, that may be too deeply psychological – maybe I was just lazy."
The UP graduate has once again returned to his old stomping grounds. However, his new office, complete with an executive assistant, is a bit different than his previous UP abode.
Timmins now works on the fourth floor of Waldschmidt as the new vice president for finance. He took over the role from Denis Ransmeier on Aug. 15.
According to President E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., Timmins had the right combination of skills for the job.
"(Timmins) is a UP grad," Beauchamp said. "He has a vast history in the finance area, in the management area, and even in the teaching area. So he has everything we need."
After working for Pricewater House for 10 years and a biotechnology company for 16 years, Timmins retired and delved into volunteer work. He worked and eventually teaching graduate courses, at George Fox University.
When he heard about the open position at UP, Timmins was not sure he was ready to leave retirement and the volunteering he loved.
"Retirement's a pretty good gig," Timmins said. "But the more I talked to people about it, the more it seemed to fit with my value system and what I wanted to do in volunteering and helping people, so I decided to try for it."
Timmins is still adjusting to his new role and hopes to be able to give back to his alma mater.
"I want to make this a better place in some incrementally small way, if I can," Timmins said. "And how does that play out from an operational standpoint? You know, I don't know yet! I haven't been here very long!"
Chewing on a huckleberry licorice straw he "stole" from Waldschmidt, the newly minted VP for finance said he's excited for the next chapter of his career.
"For a guy like me who wants to help out, wants to add value, it's a really nice place to get to be," Timmins said. "I'm just honored to be back, really."
