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Friends of retired dean and professor raise $125,000Louis A. Luzzi and Norman A. Campbell have together provided more than a half-century of service to the University and its College of Pharmacy--Luzzi as dean for more than 20 years and Campbell primarily as a professor for 31 years. As an administrator, Luzzi guided the college to its position as a national and international leader. As a professor who served as faculty adviser to many of the college's student organizations, Campbell affected the lives of hundreds of students both in and out of the classroom. Maybe that's why when the two retired last spring, many lined up to support endowment funds established in both of their names with a total of $125,000. The College of Pharmacy graduates said it was flattering and surprising that such a large sum was donated to the Norman A. and Mary Campbell Scholarship Fund and the Luzzi Endowment for Graduate and Development Activities. Luzzi, who has become the first to hold the Ernest Mario Distinguished Chair in Pharmaceutics at URI, once served as dean and professor of pharmacy at West Virginia University and as a professor at the University of Georgia. As the distinguished chair, a position established by his friend Ernie Mario through a $1.5 million endowment to the University, Luzzi will focus on research on drug delivery systems. Luzzi has a unique feeling for URI because he also holds his master's degree in pharmacy and his doctorate from the University. "I have a special pride because when I finished my bachelor's in 1959, I went to Abbott Laboratories, and I was in competition with guys from Wisconsin, Michigan and other Big 10 pharmacy schools," Luzzi said. "When it came time for raises, I got the biggest one. Because of URI, I was able to compete." He said the College's ability to prepare its students to compete today is even stronger. Campbell, who was Luzzi's first associate dean, said he realized how much he enjoyed working with students when he helped to run the College. "We have a rather unique situation because we get to see the students in small groups. They come in as uncut diamonds, and then they leave as fellow professionals," Campbell said. Campbell, who was in the last class to graduate from the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences in 1957 before it became part of URI, earned his M.B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, and J.D. from the New England School of Law. In his teaching role, Campbell focused on pharmacy law and ethics, health care policy and administration. "We teach these classes early on because we want our students to have a firm grasp of right and wrong," Campbell said. When Lynn Clapham, URI director of major gifts, asked him about a scholarship fund in his name, Campbell quickly said he wanted it to benefit students who have achieved academically and shown leadership. "I wanted to reward leadership because they will carry that into their jobs and their communities when they leave here," Campbell said. By Dave Lavallee |
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