Multimedia Reporting (Bradford-Utsler)

What does it take to lead thousands of college students? Do they need to have courage? How about the ability to carefully think through a difficult issue? Is it important to ask the right questions at the right time?

According to Marlesa Rooney, vice provost of student success, all these characteristics are important to lead thousands of 18-22 year olds. That is why she recently selected Frank DeSalvo to be the new associate vice provost for student success.

Rooney has worked with DeSalvo since arriving at the University of Kansas three years ago. She said, “Frank is a delightful person that is full of energy. It is not always about the rules with him. He is more concerned with helping a student succeed in life. I have a lot of respect for him and believe he has great judgment.”

Students might know DeSalvo as the Director of counseling and psychological services, a position he has held since 1991. They may know him as the interim dean of students. Now he will be known as the associate vice provost for student success. There is more to DeSalvo’s life outside the office that students are not aware of. Staying physically fit is very important to him. He is an avid swimmer cyclist and two years ago he completed his first marathon with his youngest daughter.

DeSalvo knew he wanted to work with college students, since working at a psychological clinic at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, during his masters studies in social work. He said, “I really wanted to work with students that were trying to improve their lives. It takes a lot of courage for them to do that and I wanted to help them.”

In 1982 he received a PhD in social work from the University of Texas. By 1984 he was the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Arkansas, a position he held for seven years before coming to the University of Kansas in 1991. He was the Director of Counseling and Psychological services at KU until 2004, when he was selected interim dean of students.

In April of 2006, he was named associate vice provost of student success. DeSalvo accepted the position to have a larger impact on students lives.

He said, “I took the new position to work one on one with students and I believe this new position will give me the opportunity to affect more students.”

While DeSalvo loves working with students, he also loves to stay active and physically fit. Everyday during his lunch hour, he heads over to Robinson Gymnasium to swim laps. He also loves to bike and two years ago he ran a marathon with his youngest daughter.

In 1989, a childhood friend of DeSalvo proposed the two compete in Ride the Rockies. DeSalvo and his friend were both 39 years old and his friend thought they better do something like this before they turn 40.

For six days DeSalvo, his childhood friend and over 2000 new friends trekked about 500 miles through the mountains from Grand Junction to Golden, Colorado. Each day he would get on his bike around 7:00 in the morning and ride until about noon.

Riding through the Rockies was a great experience for DeSalvo. He said, “The ride was really rewarding, to just ride through the mountain passes and to see all the mountains was very inspiring.”

While the scenery was inspiring, it was meeting new people that he enjoyed the most. Each day his journey began riding with about 30 people whom he never met before. During breaks for water he would join up with a different group to ride with, giving him the opportunity to meet a lot of different of people.

With his new job as associate vice provost leisure time is scarce. He now rides mountain bikes about 30 miles a week on the trails by Clinton Lake. Currently he does not have any plans to do any more long races, but he has not ruled out the possibility. He said, “If the right opportunity comes along I would be willing to do it.”

Like most fathers being able to spend time with your children is priceless. In April, 2004, DeSalvo was able to combine family with his love of physical fitness, when he competed in the Music City Marathon with his youngest daughter.

When his daughter first brought up the idea of running 26.2 miles in Memphis, his original reaction to her was, are you trying to kill me? He had never run a marathon before, but after some thought he felt it would be a great experience with his daughter and a good challenge.

For nine months DeSalvo trained by running in Lawrence, while his daughter trained primarily in Memphis. The two decided they would begin the race together, but each would run at their own pace because of their different training routines. Their primary goal was to finish the race, anytime spent running together would just be a bonus.

At the sound of the gun, the pace of the race was very slow and the two were able to stay fairly close together. After about a mile, the pace quickened and DeSalvo found himself pulling away from his daughter. By the 20 mile mark, he was about 6 minutes in front of his daughter.

The weather on that day was awful for running. It was very hot and steamy leaving the runners soaked in sweat. DeSalvo said, “It really took its toll on all the runners.”

Around the 20 mile mark, DeSalvo began to experience some cramping due to the weather, which forced him to pull over to the side of the course, to re-hydrate for about 5 minutes.

Once the cramping stopped, he got back on the course and heard somebody yelling his name from a few hundred yards behind. His daughter had unexpectedly caught up to him.

The two ran the final 5 miles of the race side by side, in a special father daughter moment. After 4 hours and 25 minutes and 26.2 miles; DeSalvo crossed the finish line with his daughter by his side, just like they started the race. Each had their hands raised in the air, like a scene from a movie.

DeSalvo said, “Crossing the finish line with my daughter was a special once in a lifetime moment that meant a lot to me. It is something I will never forget.”