Bob Killam: Working to keep UNT proud

As administrative services officer in the biology department, Bob Killam goes beyond the call of duty and is a man who wears many hats. He works directly for the chair of the department and his duties range from problem solving to graduate and undergraduate advising to budget planning.

"It is something different every day, dealing with a full range of people," he says. "That is one reason I love my job so much."

Killam is also staff adviser for the biology honor society, Beta Beta Beta; vice chair of the Staff Council and a member of the Honors Day Committee and several other university committees.

One of his pet projects is Blood Buddies, of which Killam is the staff advisor. The student organization is instrumental in planning and executing the regular spring, summer and fall campus blood drives, in cooperation with Carter Blood Care. Recently the group has begun hosting additional mini blood drives for committed regular donors who want to donate blood every eight weeks — the minimum time allowed between blood donations.

Killam is active in so many areas at UNT simply because he loves it.

"I'd like for all faculty, staff and students to have the same enthusiasm for the university that I do," Killam says. "I'm proud to say I work at UNT."

Killam's proudest moment in his 18 years at the university was being asked to serve as chair of the Honor's Day Committee in 1999, the year the celebration moved from the Coliseum to the Murchison Performing Arts Center. He says the best thing was to see the transition work smoothly, knowing that he was part of the team that made it happen.

"The Murchison allowed us to have better musical performances and it was a more personal place," he says. "The change in location required us to redesign the program, seating plans and how things would work. There was a lot of rethinking involved."

Killam is helping to make other changes in the UNT community as well.

As a member of the Staff Council, he is working with other campus organizations and the administration on a new "Keep UNT Beautiful" campaign.

The campaign will help beautify the campus by improving landscaping and making members of the university community aware of ways they can help. Killam says everyone can help keep UNT beautiful by using trash bins and walking on sidewalks instead of across the grass.

"My hope is that the university will form a standing committee to include faculty, staff and students," he says about the campaign.

An avid outdoorsman, Killam appreciates nature. Every summer he goes on an outdoor adventure to Colorado, enjoying backpacking and fly fishing.

Surprisingly, he has no stories about the fish that got away. "If I'm fly fishing in Colorado, it's the beauty surrounding me that is important," he says. "It doesn't matter if I catch anything."

BY ALLISON KOLENOVSKY kreese@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Governor signs UNT-Dallas bill
• Pohl says thank you for inauguration, festivities
• Regents approve admissions policy modifications
• Goven named interim vice provost for research
• Tornado season: Keeping an eye on the sky
• McTee receives Guggenheim Fellowship to write symphony
• TAMS student to participate in Presidential Classroom
• Elm Fork Explorer's Camp registration deadline nearing
• Totten receives Dewey Medal from ALA
• Staff awards presented

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