Dale Wesley Lick

Dale Wesley Lick (born June 1, 1933) is an American mathematician, professor and college president at three universities.

Early life and education Born in Marlette, Michigan, Lick was raised in the heart of the rural Michigan Thumb. His father was a farmer and he was the younger of two brothers. He graduated from Lapeer High School in 1955 and married his sweetheart Marilyn Foster the following year. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics at Michigan State University in 1958. He was a research and teaching assistant at MSU while completing his master's degree in 1959, also in mathematics.

Lick completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Brookhaven National Laboratory from 1967 until 1968, and returned to Tennessee as an associate professor for a year. While at UT, Lick also served as a scientific consultant to the US Atomic Energy Commission in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Lick became an associate professor at Drexel University and was named head of the mathematics department before departing for Russell Sage College in 1972. He was vice president of academic affairs until 1974 when he became dean of sciences and health professions at Old Dominion University.

Georgia Lick was inducted as president at Georgia Southern College (now Georgia Southern University) in 1978. In a recent interview, he related the three things he accomplished at Georgia Southern that he was most proud of. The first was establishing a Nursing School. When exploring this goal, his vice-chancellor referred him to a woman named Em Olivia Bevis. She was known in nursing circles throughout Georgia as an influential nurse educator. She worked with the Georgia Southern faculty to develop a BSN program with an emphasis on rural nursing.

Maine While there, he led the group that created the American University in Bulgaria.

Florida Lick was invested as president of Florida State University in 1991 and during his tenure, he is credited with beginning construction of the University Center, the installation of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, establishment of the FSU London Study Center and a revived emphasis on diversity and women in hiring. His presidency ended early due to controversy.

Controversies A quote from Lick in 1989 would return to haunt him: "A black athlete can actually outjump a white athlete on the average, so they're better at the game."

Maine When Lick was president of the University of Maine in 1989, he was in a meeting and was asked how to increase minority involvement in Maine university sports. A journalist from the student newspaper tape-recorded the conversation. His infamous reply referred to basketball. He made the above quote and followed it up with: "All you need to do is turn to the NCAA playoffs in basketball to see that the bulk of the players on those outstanding teams are black." Students, faculty, the chancellor and other officials criticized the president, saying his comments were "insensitive and showed poor judgment". Lick apologized and stated that he thought he was making a statement of science, not opinion. "The last thing I wanted to do was offend people." The controversy eventually died down and Lick faced no punishment.

During a formal statement, Lick stated, "Obviously, it is personally painful and difficult for me to leave the presidency. Controversy surrounding myself as an individual, however, cannot be allowed to hinder progress for Florida State University. While I am disappointed that I will no longer be able to lead all its efforts, I am pleased that I will remain at Florida State in a faculty position and continue to contribute to its future." Lick paused before continuing, "I'm not feeling very good about the circumstances and where I am, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise. I tend to believe that things have a way of working out for the best, whatever happens, if you try hard to make it so. And I'm going to try very hard to make it so."

Post presidency Lick became a tenured professor with appointments his academic field, mathematics, and educational policy.

Honors Lick was the recipient of the 2010 International Peace Prize from the United Cultural Convention, honored by Michigan State University with the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awar'; given the One of 40 Alumni Who Make a Difference award by University of California, Riverside and in 2016 recognized by the non-alumni emeritus award, the Distinguished Service Award at FSU.

A bronze statue and plaque were placed in front of the Stone College of Education building on the Tallahassee campus in honor of his years as president, part of Legacy Walk III.

Books Fundamentals of Algebra (1970) Whole-Faculty Study Groups: A Powerful Way to Change Schools and Enhance Learning (1998) New Directions in Mentoring: Creating a Culture of Synergy (1999) Whole-Faculty Study Groups: Creating Student-Based Professional Development (2001) Whole-Faculty Study Groups: Creating Professional Learning Communities That Target Student Learning (2005) Whole-Faculty Study Groups Fieldbook: Lessens Learned and Best Practices From Classrooms, Districts, and Schools (2007) Schoolwide Action Research for Professional Learning Communities: Improving Student Learning Through The Whole-Faculty Study Groups Approach (2008) Schools Can Change: A Step-By-Step Change Creation System for Building Innovative Schools and Increasing Student Learning (2012)