5 ” ” ” ’ ’ — ” On Sept. 25, the campus community will celebrate the investiture of its 19th president Dr. Alan LaFave, the first Northern alumnus to hold the office without an “interim preceding it, and his story reflects the lasting impact of the Northern experience. For LaFave, the path to Northern began long before he ever set foot on campus. As a senior at Sully Buttes High School, LaFave participated in a band clinic led by Northern Director of Bands Lonn Sweet. Sweet’s visit left a lasting impression. “I remember him coming in and just exuding professionalism to the highest degree, and he was so energetic and engaging on the podium,” LaFave said. Inspired by what he saw and heard, LaFave chose Northern, a decision that would shape the course of his life and career. On campus, LaFave found himself surrounded by fellow students who shared his passion for music and commitment to excellence. “I remember being really, really excited to be working with a large group of people, peers, colleagues, fellow students who had similar goals and who were all committed to working hard,” he said. “The excitement of meeting a broad array of folks from around the state and around the country who all wanted to be a part of something special. As a music student, LaFave immersed himself in every opportunity Northern had to offer. He remembers performing George Frideric Handel’s Messiah under the direction of Dr. John Berggren, experiences that brought together students, community members and orchestral musicians from Minneapolis. Dr. Alan LaFave works with students on the stage in Krikac Auditorium in this 2016 file photo. His Northern experience spans decades and roles from student to professor, department chair, dean, provost and, today, president of the university. Having gone through those roles, LaFave said, has given him a lens to be able to understand the challenges and pressures students, faculty and administrators face. “It helps me make informed decisions because, when I’m faced with a difficult decision, and I think most good administrators and most empathetic administrators will resonate with this, you have to look at it through the lens of where they are and try to take all those things into account when making a decision. “It just made this as near a professional experience as you can imagine,” LaFave said. He remembers standout concerts, performing in musicals like Guys and Dolls and Calamity Jane and the anticipation of preparing for a senior recital. Throughout those experiences, LaFave credits faculty members such as Sweet, Berggren and clarinet professor James Gai for helping shape his musical development and future. “They were all very, very important,” LaFave said. “All of the faculty were just engaged, wanted to see the students be successful, and it just created a culture of home away from home and certainly a culture of support. That sense of belonging would become one of the defining themes of LaFave s Northern experience — and one that would continue to influence him as he later returned to campus as a faculty member and academic leader. As his responsibilities grew, LaFave carried with him lessons learned from some of his earliest role models. Sweet showed him how to teach, communicate and be organized. His father Lonnie LaFave demonstrated the importance of excellent service to not only his customers, but also his community. His mother Irene “Soogie” LaFave embodied the importance of having a positive attitude, even when faced with challenges. Looking back, LaFave can trace many of his leadership principles to the mentors and role models who shaped his life. As he prepares to lead the university into its next chapter, those values continue to inform his vision for Northern s future.
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