Cournoyer to retire from Publications

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

Wayne Cournoyer

fter 12 years of leading the Publications Office, Wayne Cournoyer is retiring Aug. 3 to pursue a long list of pleasures.

     "Once I made the decision to do it, I allowed myself to start thinking about what I was going to do," he said.

     "I'm going to draw, paint, grow herbs, snow shoe, sail, fish, take more courses, expand my mind, do some landscaping around the house. I'm working on a series of black-and-white drawings that are kind of spiritual in nature.

     "He's not going to be one to stagnate," said Jim Burke, assistant director of Publications and senior designer. Burke has worked with Cournoyer since the latter's arrival as a production manager in 1987.

     Prior to 1987, Cournoyer spent most of his career in the fast-paced world of New York advertising production.

     "It was such a change of environment for me from Manhattan to here. This is where I wanted to be. Working for a non-profit is a purer way of life.

     The work is for the greater good. I felt like coming to UMass was a reward for working hard my whole life."

     As director of the Publications Office, Cournoyer has managed relationships among production houses, clients around the University, and members of his staff of eight.

     Burke credits Cournoyer with improving relationships between Publications and its clients on campus.

     "He's a very good mediator between clients and designers," Burke said.

     Cournoyer said that putting clients at ease is the first thing he tries to do.

     "I let them know we're going to take care of it, especially if I see some anxiety or fear," he said.

     One thing he won't miss is doing annual performance reviews.

     "The hardest thing to do is to mark another human being's performance. Everybody brings different gifts to the table."

     Cournoyer said he'll keep his connection to the University after retirement. "I joined the Alumni Association; I'll join the retired professionals' association, and take a few courses.

     "It's not like going on vacation because when you go on vacation, you're coming back. It's like leaving home because you lose a part of yourself when you go.

     "If you work in a place and you don't make it a part of you, you lose something, too. You have to make it part of you and do something you believe in."