"Geoff would say that any university had incredibly intelligent people, and that we should use their expertise to help administer a university. Colleges have tremendous human capital and brainpower, but often don't take advantage of all the employees as resources for ideas," Rimpau recalls. "The nice thing about shared governance is that you get input from lots of people."

It wasn't until Gamble became MSU's president (after serving as University of Vermont's provost), however, that the shared-governance initiative took form. Gamble lured Rimpau from WSU with his philosophies — and with a promise of excellent fly fishing and upland game bird hunting. Rimpau signed on, moving his wife Sydney, teenage son Ben, and English Pointer Gunner, to Bozeman in 2002. In May 2008, Gamble named Rimpau vice president of planning and chief information officer.

Admittedly, Rimpau's American Sign Language skills have rusted since his days working with chimpanzees. Yet, Rimpau is adept at reading other types of signs and symbols. For instance, he must anticipate subtle signals that may indicate a need for off-campus technology systems backup or finding a sustainable enrollment cap while monitoring the long-range forecast of 15 percent fewer high school grads in state in the next decade. He analyzes effects of MSU's expanding academic programs, whether in Bozeman or other locations. Any plans, says Rimpau, must help maintain MSU's national standing as a top tier Carnegie Foundation research university.

"Jim's contribution is subtle," says Gamble. "As part of my senior leadership team, he brings a leadership style that is collaborative, engaging. His approach brings the community together in a quiet, understated way, an effective way."

Even 20 years later, Rimpau still recalls lessons learned during his sign-language days with Moja, Pili, Tatu, chimpanzees named in Swahili for one, two, three; and Dar, Arabic for the Tanzanian city, Dar es Salaam.

"Studying chimps puts our species in a different light — we are very similar," he says. "Chimps have an intellect all their own in the animal world. Studying the university as a living organism, given the richness and diversity of campus, seems appropriate and allows us to recognize both the intellectual quality of the university body and to understand and predict what is likely to happen next."

As the ensuing chaos of any organizational planning begins, Rimpau recalls pandemonium one night when a chimpanzee escaped her cabin.

"The chimps were in bed by 8 p.m., and monitored by an intercom," he says. "Occasionally one would get up. One time, Moja got out of the cabin and was running along the farm rooftops. People tried to get her down by spraying hoses, but she'd go in and out the second story windows of the farmhouse. Things were totally out of control when I got there. Eventually, we talked her down, bribed her."

He says that also is what it's like with kids and administrators: "When all else fails, bribe 'em with candy — sweet rewards rather than threats. Works every time."

Return to regular view	Text-only              Email this article	Published: 11/24/2008