Geri Boucher

By Erika Usui

Geri Boucher's schedule book no longer consists of appointments and meetings, but of playtime with grandchildren and vacation plans.

Boucher retired from her post as assistant to the dean on April 1, bidding farewell to her CU career of 17 years. She said her time at CU and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication has been a wonderful experience for her, but now it's time to move on.

"The school is full of dynamic, interesting people," Boucher said. "It's a very ‘happening' place, as people used to say, and has a great faculty, staff, advisory board and students. I really enjoyed my time here."

Boucher first came to CU in 1987 to temporarily work in the Office of the Vice President as an administrative assistant. A couple of months later, she began her career at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs as administrative assistant to the associate vice chancellor. Five years later she transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences, where she spent eight years as program assistant for the associate deans.

When Boucher succeeded Garda Meyer at the School in October 2001, she already had 14 years of CU experience under her belt.

"Geri's the ‘go-to' person when you don't know what to do. She keeps the scatter-brained dean together," Voakes joked at Boucher's retirement party on March 17.

Voakes said that even with all of her assigned responsibilities – including supervisor of classified faculty, liaison to the school's advisory board and all departments at CU, secretary for advisory board and faculty meetings, planner for special events and assistant to the dean – Boucher always kept things together.

"She also has very even temperament and is able to ride out the highs and the lows, the thick and the thin. There are a lot situations that require fast responses, and I could count on Geri everyday to stay on an even keel, he said." Voakes added that Boucher never loses her sense of humor and is always able to crack a joke even during stressful times.

"She is always aware of the human element of how people will feel about something and how someone will be affected personally. It's good to have someone remind us of that," Voakes said.

Of her plans after retirement, Boucher said she will spend a lot of time with her grandchildren, Chase, 3, and Cara, 1.

She also plans to spend time traveling with friends and family. Boucher has already spent a week on the beach in Carlsbad, Calif., in early April, and plans to head to the Northwest in the fall. Boucher also has plans to travel oversees; she said she is most looking forward to visiting Italy in the near future to enjoy the arts.