New assignment
Jim Richards returns to the classroom
Editor's note: In a recent interview, Jim Richards, vice provost for graduate and professional education, discusses his decision to return to teaching and research. Ann Ardis, deputy dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center (IHRC), will become interim vice provost for graduate and professional education, effective Sept. 1.
8:26 a.m., May 26, 2015--Upon entering the office of Jim Richards you immediately are greeted by a wall-sized photo of Philadelphia sports legend and baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. Schmidt’s shoulders lowered and his body twisting to unleash the torque of his might against a curveball, it’s a moment Jim Richards, Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, remembers with great clarity.
With the calm, deep baritone of a play-by-play radio announcer, Richards spins yarns about the teams and players around whom he spent a lot of time working as a sports medicine professional. “There were many interesting stories -- some I can tell, some I can’t,” he said, laughing.
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With eloquence and insight, the esteemed kinesiology professor can easily recall certain athletes’ movements and the unique physical gifts that made each player successful, as well as the mechanical flaws that impeded his success. And it’s that deep passion for the science of movement he wants to directly share with students following his recent decision to return to the classroom and research laboratory at the end of his tenure as vice provost for graduate and professional education.
“I want to be closer to the students and to the classroom and get back to contributing new research. I truly miss it,” said Richards.
“When you have invested so much of your time and sweat into building up a program, it’s hard to be away. I find great personal satisfaction in helping our students reach their personal and professional goals,” noted Richards, who played a significant leadership role in conceiving and building Delaware’s highly successful graduate interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science degree program and served as its director for its first five years.
As vice provost, Richards helped shepherd an articulation agreement with Xiamen University to bring doctoral students from China to study among nearly 25 eligible UD programs, including oceanography, animal and food science, urban affairs and public policy, computer sciences, financial services analytics and mechanical engineering.
An international delegation, including Xiamen University Council Chairman Yang Zhenbin and University Vice President Zhan Xinli, was on campus last fall to sign an agreement that will pave the way for 40 doctoral students from Xiamen to study at UD during the next five years.
“Our agreement represents an exciting opportunity for UD to expand its international footprint,” said Richards at the time.
“We are grateful to Jim for the important work he has done to make our distinguished university a premier graduate and research institution, and a key destination for international students,” said Provost Domenico Grasso. “Our recent designation as a Senator Paul Simon Award winner is part of his legacy, and is evidence of our ability to drive excellence at all levels of UD.”
The University of Delaware was among five U.S. universities and colleges recognized for excellence in integrating international education across all aspects of college and university campuses.
Another hallmark of his senior administrative work at UD has been the ongoing effort to bring a strategy for online classes into fruition.
“Online education at UD will provide in-career, continuous education opportunities for working professionals,” said Richards, who will continue to lead that work even after his transition back to faculty.
A well-known scholar in the areas of sports biomechanics and rehabilitation biomechanics, Richards earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, a master's degree in biomechanics from UD and a doctoral degree from Indiana University.
Article by Jawanza Ali Keita