LEWISBURG – Charles Pollock, senior vice president for external relations at Bucknell University, died Wednesday, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville after an extended illness. He was 59.
“Charlie dedicated his professional life to higher education and especially to Bucknell,” said Bucknell President Brian C. Mitchell. “Charlie deeply loved Bucknell and this community, as his dedicated service to both so strongly attest. All of us considered it a privilege to know a man of such warmth, humility, and decency, and we will miss him profoundly.”
Known to all as “Charlie,” Pollock was a 1970 graduate of Bucknell and was named vice president for external relations at Bucknell in April 2006. With his recent illness, the University had accepted his request that he take a change in position to senior advisor for external affairs and serve in a half-time role.
The first to hold the external relations position at the University, he was responsible for the University’s efforts to help strengthen the local tax base, the regional economy and the local schools. He collaborated between Bucknell and local citizens, corporate entities, research institutions, economic development agencies, and local, state and federal governments.
Previously, Pollock had served for eight years as assistant to the University’s president and, later, was vice president for student affairs.
In his many civic roles, Pollock served as president and board member of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, a group whose purpose is to promote the economic vitality, architectural heritage and cultural vibrancy of the downtown commercial district for the benefit of the greater Lewisburg area.
Linda Sterling, executive director of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, noted that Bucknell had appointed Pollock to serve as its representative to the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership.
“They could not have made a better gift to the community,” said Sterling. “He led the partnership with vision, enthusiasm and a gentle, guiding hand. Charlie was a person who inspired and empowered people, who not only taught us how to talk about positive change but also to make it happen. He has left a lasting imprint on the Lewisburg community that will continue to bear fruit for years to come.”
Pollock also played leadership roles in the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, the Forum for Pennsylvania’s Heartland, the Greater Susquehanna Keystone Innovation Zone, the Union County Industrial Development Corp., Evangelical Community Hospital (including as vice chair of the board of directors), and the Lewisburg Neighborhoods Corp.
He also served on the Geisinger Health System Advisory Council.
Pollock’s career in higher education administration spanned more than three decades.
Before joining Bucknell’s administration, he was director of public relations at Allegheny College (1986-98). In his last 10 years at Allegheny, Pollock also was secretary of the college.
He also had been director of the public relations programs at Ohio Wesleyan University (1981-86) and Juniata College (1974-81). He also had enrollment management responsibilities at Allegheny and Ohio Wesleyan, and served as Allegheny’s interim chief development officer in 1988.
As an honors student at Bucknell, Pollock majored in English with a concentration in theater. He also completed substantial graduate study at the University. Pollock, a member of Delta Upsilon while enrolled as an undergraduate student at Bucknell, also served as the University chapter's advisor.
He was married to Gayle Pollock, a consultant to colleges and universities who also serves part-time as Bucknell’s senior associate director of admissions.
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Charles Pollock 59, Bucknell University vice president, dies
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