Sacramento State could be facing turnover at its highest positions over the next few months. The turnover started for Sac State last semester when it lost one of its most respected and talented professors, William Dorman, to retirement and Vice President for Public Affairs Frank Whitlatch to Humboldt State, so that he could be closer to his family.

But the hemorrhaging of talented workers has not stopped there. Athletic Director Terry Wanless is one of five finalists for the same position Eastern Illinois University. In 2007, Wanless was given the General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director award. Prior to working at Sac State, Wanless was the athletic director at the University of North Dakota from 1990-1999.

Sac State also recently decided not to renew the contract of men’s basketball coach Jerome Jenkins. Wanless let go of Jenkins because he believed that the program had “stalled out.” A new men’s basketball coach has not been named as of yet. Women’s volleyball coach Debbie Colberg also stepped down last season. Her replacement, assistant coach Ruben Volta has taken her place, but for over 30 years Colberg was the face of successful athletics at Sac State. Colberg was also inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Executive Director of University Enterprises, Matt Altier is also leaving Sac State. His nickname, “Little Tasmanian Devil,” was given to him because of his tireless efforts and dedication to his job. Altier has been with Sac State since 2001 and oversees a $100 million enterprise that built the new bookstore, the Academic Information Resource Center as well as Modoc Hall. Altier will become vice president of Administration and Finance at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey.

Furthermore, Academic Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph Sheley flirted with the idea of leaving Sac State but recently decided against leaving. He was offered the position of university president at Metropolitan State University in Minnesota. Sheley has been pilloried and ridiculed for fee hikes, classes being cut and enrollment targets being missed. We are starting to turn a corner, as faculty and administrators are starting to work together. If Sheley were to leave us now, we would have to fill yet another position while trying to fight looming budget cuts.

It is not going to be easy losing these qualified workers. However, turnover is a way of life in any industry. It is how the organization copes that shows its strength. It seems that Sac State is always facing some obstacle either regarding the budget, enrollment or staffing. However, it does not make this situation any less important. Thankfully, Sheley is staying put, now we just need to find a way to replace what we have lost hold on to them.

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