Glenn Burnham is the 2007 Billy Adams recipient (11-02-07)
A true proponent of education, Billy Adams was instrumental in establishing Adams State College. Dr. Glenn Burnham, emeritus professor of education, dedicated his professional life to education as well. Burnham's myriad of contributions to the college, as professor, administrator, official with the state system, and as a friend, are among many reasons why Adams State will present Burnham with the 2008 Billy Adams Award at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2 in the Student Union Building banquet rooms.
Established in 1971 the Billy Adams Award recognizes those who follow in the tradition set by Adams, committed to Adams State College and its continual growth. For the past 35 years a number of individuals and couples have received this honor. Burnham's place among this respectful list is in inarguable.
"I am humbled and certainly honored to receive the Billy Adams Award," Burnham said. "I certainly would have to share it with many of the wonderful people I have been privileged to work with at Adams State."
A San Luis Valley native, Burnham spent summers on the family ranch near Saguache when he was growing up. "I had the best of both worlds," he said. "I spent summers driving tractors, irrigating, and performing other ranch chores. In the winter, I moved back home and attended school."
Begins professional life in education
After graduating from Monte Vista High School, Burnham earned his undergraduate degree from Colorado State College, now known as University of Northern Colorado. After a brief stint in the army he first taught in Johnstown, Colo., and served as principal there and in Milliken, Colo., before returning to college to earn his master's from UNC and a doctorate in education from the University of Colorado.
It was then Burnham began his tenure at Adams State College, by teaching at Metro State College. "At that time Metro State was trying to get accredited for teacher education," Burnham said. "In order to accomplish their goal, the college had to have professors teach courses from teacher accredited colleges." After a year, Dr. Gene Kelly, emeritus professor of education, then head of Adams State Teacher Education, asked Burnham to fill a vacancy on campus.
"My family and I were not dissatisfied with the city, it was an excellent experience," Burnham said. "I was very glad to come back to the valley, where we settled and lived for the next seventeen years."
Burnham was an associate professor of education for five years before he was promoted to full professor and again to head of the secondary education department, where he served for four years. When Dr. Marvin Motz was named interim president he asked Burnham to become interim vice president for academic and student affairs.
Move to higher education administration
"Marv called me up and said, 'you and I always talked about what we could do if we could run this college – now is our chance,'" Burnham said. The first year was a challenging time for Motz and Burnham. "Because of budget we had to cut seventeen faculty positions," Burnham said. "Some positions we just did not fill, others we had to let some people go, it was not based on ability, but on budget."
In 1982, President William Fulkerson was hired by the Board of Trustees for the State Colleges as Adams State's sixth president. He named Burnham vice president for academic affairs, where he served in higher administration for six years, including one year as interim president.
"Dr. Fulkerson was asked to be interim president at Metro State for a year," Burnham said. "The board asked me to serve as Adams State's interim president during that time."
He left Adams State for the position of vice president for academic and student affairs for the System of State Colleges in Colorado; a year later he took the position of president of the system for four years.
Transitioning from the classroom to the board room was a natural path for Burnham to follow. While he was working on his doctorate he took administration coursework, too. "I did miss working with the students and in the field," he said. "I also enjoyed higher education administration."
In 2003, the State Colleges in Colorado system dissolved, and an independent Board of Trustees was appointed for Adams State College.
"I was always a big supporter of an individual board for Adams State," Burnham said. "Adams State has unique characteristics. It is good to have the whole support of a board of trustees."
Continuing to support Adams State
Even after he retired, Burnham worked for Adams State, going to community colleges in the Denver area for years and counseling students to continue their education in Alamosa.
"Adams State continues to amaze me," Burnham said. "My wife (Kerry Jean) and I were in Aspen a few weeks ago and met a couple from Denver over breakfast. It came up that I used to work at Adams State. The couple was so excited; they had graduated from here in the 50s and still loved Adams State. You hear that all the time, you really do."
In honor of his first wife, Burnham and his two children Pam (Keith) Sturdevant and Cindy (Charles) Barela, established the Shirley Burnham Memorial Scholarship. Burnham has four grandchildren and said he enjoys outdoor activities and continuing to support Adams State College when asked.
He has traveled widely in the United State, Europe, and Latin America and held consultancies with a number of agencies, schools and college. While the vice president of academic affairs, Burnham helped establish a partnership between Adams State College and the Federal University of Sao Joa del Rei in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
"We did have an exchange between our faculty," Burnham said. "The partnership remained active for years."
I have been around several institutions, including those in foreign countries. Adams State is truly a unique college, its service to students and attitude towards individuals are its greatest strengths."
By Linda Relyea
