By building a culture of mentorship, Dr. Rao transformed the graduate college into a powerhouse training ground for future provosts, national research presidents, and academic deans. / Courtesy photo

True leadership is measured not just by what you accomplish during your career, but by the leaders you leave behind. For the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), that legacy of leadership can be traced directly back to one man: Dr. Narasinga Rao.

Before his retirement in 2008, Dr. Rao spent a decade as the dean of the Dr. Joe C. Jackson College of Graduate Studies and Research, following a distinguished tenure as a professor of physics and engineering. But beyond his contributions to the sciences, Dr. Rao possessed a rare, eagle-eyed talent for spotting potential in faculty members and training them to become major players in higher education.

By building a culture of mentorship, Dr. Rao transformed the graduate college into a powerhouse training ground for future provosts, national research presidents, and academic deans. Here is the story of how Dr. Rao shaped the careers of three exceptional achievers, cementing a multigenerational impact on American education.

While serving as the chair of the Regents Council on Research for regional universities in Oklahoma, Dr. Narasinga Rao proposed a visionary initiative to Mary Ann Maletz, the then-vice chancellor for finance. He suggested organizing an annual statewide Research Day that would bring together all 22 Oklahoma institutions, rotating the host campus each year, and requested funding from the State Regents to launch it. Both Vice Chancellor Maletz and Chancellor Hans Brisch enthusiastically agreed to back the initiative.

In 1998, Dr. Rao formed a committee of vice presidents from six regional universities to plan and execute the inaugural event at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). The debut was a resounding success, featuring 252 students and faculty members who presented their research, creative endeavors, and scholarly activities. To elevate the occasion, Dr. Rao invited his former professor and Nobel laureate in chemistry, Dr. Herbert Hauptman of Buffalo, New York, to serve as the distinguished keynote speaker.

Dr. Rao continued to spearhead and organize Research Day on the UCO campus until 2008, after which the event transitioned to its planned rotating format across different campuses. Years later, he was invited back by UCO Provost Dr. Charlotte Simmons to celebrate the event's silver jubilee, marking 25 years of impactful student scholarship, where he was formally honored by President Todd Lamb. In lasting recognition of his pioneering contributions and tireless advocacy for student scholars, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education issued an official proclamation during a special meeting, formally honoring Dr. Rao as the "Grandfather of Undergraduate Research in the State of Oklahoma."

Dr. Bill Radke: The Ascent to Provost

Dr. Rao’s mentorship model was built on recognizing brilliance outside of his own department. He looked to the biology department and recruited Dr. Bill Radke to serve as his associate dean of the Jackson College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Under Dr. Rao’s guidance, Dr. Radke mastered the complex world of graduate administration, learning how to balance academic rigor with institutional growth. The training ground proved highly effective. Dr. Radke went on to climb the highest ranks of university leadership, transitioning first to assistant provost and ultimately retiring as UCO’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Dr. John Barthell: From Local Research to Washington, DC

Dr. Barthell served on the board of CUR as a nationally elected councilor. He has served on the boards of CUR and the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A new bee species, Eufriesea barthelli, was named in 2017 to honor his contributions to the field of bee pollination ecology and his engagement of undergraduate students in this research topic.

An accomplished teacher, scholar, and administrator, Barthell has received numerous grants and awards recognizing these accomplishments, including UCO’s Herbert S. Dordick Outstanding Mentor Award and being named a 2022 Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Fellow. Barthell currently leads a grant for research experiences for undergraduate students, now centered in Greece.

When looking for his next assistant dean, Dr. Rao once again tapped into UCO's stellar biology faculty, selecting Dr. John Barthell. Dr. Rao didn't just give his assistants administrative tasks; he threw them into high-stakes academic development.

With Dr. Rao’s backing, Dr. Barthell secured UCO’s first-ever SURE-STEP grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), a massive milestone aimed at recruiting and training undergraduate students in breakthrough research. This pivotal experience catapulted Dr. Barthell onto the national stage. He was later selected as a research program officer at the NSF and currently serves as the president of the Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR) in Washington, D.C., influencing undergraduate research policies on a national scale.

Dr. John Garic: From the Federal Bench to the Dean’s Office

Beyond traditional desk administration, Dr. Garic frequently designs engaging campus programs. At Montana Tech, he wrote and directed historical mock trials (such as The People vs. Harper Lee) to creatively teach law, literature, and courtroom procedure to undergraduate students.

Perhaps no trajectory highlights Dr. Rao’s adaptive training style better than that of Dr. John Garic. Before entering academia, Dr. Garic had already achieved the pinnacle of a legal career, serving as a federal magistrate judge in New Orleans. When he joined UCO's Business College as a law professor, Dr. Rao recognized that Garic's sharp legal mind would be invaluable to administrative governance.

When Dr. Radke advanced to the provost’s office, Dr. Rao hired Dr. Garic as the new assistant dean. Dr. Rao mentored him in the unique nuances of academic leadership, preparing him to take the reins. Upon Dr. Rao’s retirement in 2008, Dr. Garic seamlessly stepped into his mentor's shoes as the dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Dr. Garic later took his expertise to Montana Tech of the University of Montana as principal and CEO and continues to inspire students today, teaching at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

The Rao Effect

Though Dr. Rao retired from UCO in 2008, his blueprint for mentorship remains active across the United States. From the halls of national research councils in Washington to universities in Montana and Pennsylvania, the standard of excellence he instilled continues to guide higher education today.

Discover more at New India Abroad.