CSUN TO HONOR PROFESSOR DEAN HAILS POLITICAL SCIENCE TEACHER CAMPBELL AS 'EXEMPLARY EXAMPLE'.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

Just prior to World War II, a doctor friend told Warren Campbell that chemistry was the future, so Campbell went to the University of Minnesota to major in chemical engineering.

``I was good at everything except chemistry,'' Campbell said.

Fortunately for California State University, Northridge, Campbell chose to specialize in political science when he returned from serving in the infantry. His career switch led to more than 40 years as a political science professor at CSUN, where he could be seen riding his bike on campus most days.

Today, Campbell will be honored by university officials, community leaders and former students at a reception and dinner on campus in recognition of his years of leadership at CSUN and his service to the Los Angeles area.

``Professor Campbell is a great man: a man of character, a man of dedication,'' said Ram M. Roy, professor of international relations and political science at CSUN. ``He is a good friend, a good colleague, a good professor and a good family man, and his personality extends to everything he touches.''

Campbell helped establish the campus's Urban Studies and Planning Program and the Master of Public Administration program. In the community, he has served as the executive director for the Destination Ninety Forum Citizens' Planning Program, as a member of the California State Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and as a member and chairman of the city of Los Angeles' Board of Zoning Appeals.

Although the 77-year-old will retire from teaching, he will still serve as co-director of the Master of Public Administration program.

``To work with people, particularly young people, on important subjects, is such a great privilege in the first place,'' Campbell said. ``But to do so with mutual respect and a sharing of thoughts and values eventually makes a life work. What stands out for me is not some big thing, but just the cumulative experience of living and learning together.''

His fellow CSUN colleagues heaped praise on Campbell's career.

``I think Warren Campbell is an exemplary example of what a faculty member at a university should be,'' said Stella Theodoulou, former political science department chairwoman and interim dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

``He is caring, he's truly interested in the well-being and intellectual growth of his students, and he believes wholeheartedly in the mission of this university and our role in the community,'' Theodoulou said.

``He believes, as I do, that this university doesn't just occupy space in the community - we are part of the community, and we have a responsibility and a partnership with the community. I wish I had a hundred faculty (members) like him.''

Matthew Cahn, interim chairman of the university's political science department, said Campbell embodies the best in teaching at CSUN.

``This university places an extraordinary high priority on effective teaching and we have many Warren Campbells here in that respect, but it's fitting to use him as the model,'' Cahn said. ``He has been extraordinarily successful in the classroom and community service.''

As a teacher, Campbell said, he always strived to connect his lessons with real-world experience.

``The areas in which I taught - state and local government and urban politics - don't just affect political scientists,'' Campbell said. ``Many of my students wanted to work in business and I told them: This course is so you will know how the world works, and you need to know how the world works if you want to be successful, and you need to be able to assess how the world works because you might want to improve it.''