THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505030158
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Robert J. Grymes Jr. likely would have attended a community college if there had been one in the early 1960s when he was seeking an education.
Grymes, newly named dean of instruction and student development at Paul D. Camp Community College, fit the profile of many of the students on the college's two campuses: He was older, working full-time, married and had children.
``I understand very well what many of our students go through,'' said Grymes, 57. ``They have families, kids and a mortgage while they are trying to get an education.''
That makes it difficult to find money and time for classes.
``Many of our students would never have a chance to get an education if it weren't for the community college,'' Grymes said. ``We have a real important responsibility to have our doors open and provide quality instruction to help them advance as far as they can.''
His role is to help the faculty members do their jobs.
``I see myself as the person who will see they have the resources, equipment, supplies and professional development opportunities they need,'' he said.
Grymes officially assumes his post May 16. He's been interim dean since September - on loan from Tidewater Community College, replacing Nancy Sandberg, who had become ill during the summer and died last fall.
``The close contact with the faculty and students has really been a joy to me,'' he said.
At TCC, his title was similar - dean of instruction and student services - but he had little day-to-day contact with faculty and students as he previously had at J. Sargent Reynolds Community College in Richmond.
``I knew I missed that contact but I didn't know how much until I came here,'' he said.
Grymes, a Richmond native, attended the University of Richmond on a football scholarship for a semester. Unprepared for college, he went into the Navy for four years, then drove a truck for a while, trying to save money for classes.
Eventually, he earned a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University and a master's and a doctorate from the University of Virginia.
Grymes and his wife, Elva Jane, live in the Kempsville section of Virginia Beach and have two sons, Christopher and James, both studying music.
Grymes is a former high school teacher and administrator and also a former marathon runner - until ``the knees gave out.'' Now he spends most of his spare time reading, mainly biblical history. He teaches adult Sunday school at Suburban Christian Church.
``When I retire I plan to do something with the church,'' he said.
For now, he is excited about the potential facing Paul D. Camp with the recent opening of the Oliver K. Hobbs Campus in Suffolk and the city's growing population and expanding business and industrial base.
``There is a lot we can do as a college,'' he said. ``It's a welcome challenge to me to see how much we can do to help.''
The college also plans to renovate its Franklin headquarters and to upgrade its computers on both campuses to better meet the needs of the community, he said. This fall the school will introduce ``writing across the curriculum'' to enhance writing skills and good communication.
College officials are assessing the community's needs, to prepare themselves to work with local businesses and industries.
``My job is to provide leadership so our instruction will be as up-to-date as we can possibly provide,'' he said, ``and so we fully prepare our students for the next step, whether it's to transfer to a four-year-college, gain employment or gain some licensure or certification, or live a life as a more successful citizen.''
One of his favorite events is graduation, which will be May 12.
``I have never yet, and I hope I never do, grown tired of graduation,'' he said. ``It's sort of the culmination of why we're here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Dr. Robert J. Grymes Jr. is the new dean of instruction and student
development at Paul D. Camp.
KEYWORDS: APPOINTMENT by CNB