Iowa State’s College of Agriculture will soon say goodbye to a man who has devoted 40 years of his life to serving both students and their prospective employers.

On June 30, Roger Bruene will retire from his position as director of the College of Agriculture’s Career Services.

Bruene took his current position in 1975 as the college’s first full-time placement office director.

“It has been very rewarding to me to somewhat develop the program,” he said. “If I have accomplished anything, it has been to develop the Ag Career Day to a maximum level.”

The College of Ag Career Day hosted 15 companies in Bruene’s first year with the program. By fall semester of 1997, 170 companies participated in the event, while several companies were placed on a waiting list.

As director, Bruene said he served four main constituent groups on a daily basis: students, faculty and staff, alumni and employers.

Bruene said he will miss working with students throughout their college careers and into their employment.

“If it wasn’t for the students, none of the other things would have happened,” he said.

Eric Hoiberg, associate dean for academic programs, said Bruene has done an outstanding job for the college. He has a strong sense of how to satisfy the individual needs of students and employers, Hoiberg said.

Hoiberg said the career office does more than just find jobs for students. It also is instrumental for recruitment and retention of students and alumni relations, he said.

“One of Roger’s significant strengths is his knowledge of the field of agriculture and the people in it,” Hoiberg said. “His network of contacts is unbelievable; it is a key ingredient to the success of the program.”

Throughout his career, Bruene has seen changes in the job market, adding that one of his most vivid memories is from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He said the time period was challenging because student enrollment was high, but employment opportunities were low.

Students would stand in line outside Curtiss Hall at 4 a.m. in the cold, just to get a chance to sign up for the limited number of interview times, he said.

Born and raised on a farm in Gladbrook, Bruene said he has an excellent Iowa farm background. He attended a one-room country schoolhouse for the first seven years of his education and later graduated in a class of 15.

Bruene earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from ISU and began his career in 1956 as a cooperative Extension, 4-H youth agent.

After serving two years with the United States Army Reserve, Bruene returned to ISU pursue graduate work in agricultural education, rural sociology and psychology.

Upon returning to ISU, he found an opportunity for professional employment with the university.

In 1959, Bruene served as an adviser for the farm operations department at ISU and later became professor in charge of the program. Aside from department work, he also worked in the classification office for the College of Ag.

“I love Iowa, and it was appropriate to take advantage of the opportunity. There was not any driving reason to look elsewhere,” Bruene said. “I have had several different kinds of jobs while I have been here, which has prevented burn-out.”

After devoting his energy to helping others with career choices, Bruene said he looks at retirement as a challenging career change.

“I look forward to taking control of my life in a positive way,” he said. “I will be able to step back and assess myself.”

Bruene said although he has no structured plans for his free time, he and his wife, Barbara, an ISU associate professor of design, will remain in Ames.

He said he would like to travel and spend more time with his grandchildren.

Bruene said he hopes others are able to find a work experience in which they look forward to Monday mornings at 8 a.m. as much as they look forward to their weekends.

“Fortunately, I have had that wonderful experience,” Bruene said. “I couldn’t have had a better job as I have had in this current position.”