A Farewell for Arlen and Diane Chase

The music of a mariachi band filled the Grand Ballroom of the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on Monday, April 11 as UCF faculty, staff, retirees, and friends bid farewell to Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase.

A Latin American themed farewell reception was held to honor the internationally recognized Pegasus Professors and to wish them well in their new roles at the University of Las Vegas-Nevada (UNLV). Diane Chase, Ph.D., has been named executive vice president and provost at UNLV, and Arlen Chase, Ph.D., will join UNLV in the fall as a tenured professor of anthropology. A long line of guests formed to congratulate and bid the couple farewell. Guests had the opportunity to document memories on note cards to send with the Chase’s and enjoy Latin American food and drinks.

Among the several speakers at the event, President John C. Hitt, Ph.D., spoke to the group of attendees, highlighting the Chase’s outstanding service to the university and the Orlando community. Michael Johnson, Ph.D., Dean of the UCF College of Sciences, also toasted the Chase’s with a commemorative speech, recognizing their history, impact and legacy.

“Appointing you was one of our university’s best actions. Our only regret is that new opportunities will take you from us.” Dean Johnson concluded in his speech.

The Chase’s have been making an impact on the UCF and Orlando community since 1984 when they were hired as professors in what was then the anthropology and sociology department within what was the UCF College of Arts & Sciences. Today, Dr. Arlen F. Chase is a Pegasus Professor, Associate Dean with the UCF College of Sciences and Interim Chair for the UCF Nicholson School of Communication. He specializes in anthropological archaeology and his primary focus of research is on the ancient Maya of Central America.

Pegasus Professor, Dr. Diane Z. Chase currently leads efforts to ensure the excellence of all academic programs at UCF as the Vice Provost for Academic Program Quality. She also spearheads the development of new programs that are innovative and advance the university’s academic mission. Although she has had various administrative roles with the university, she continues to be active in her academic field of Mayan archaeology.

For the last 30 years Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase have co-directed archaeological excavations at Caracol, Belize and served the UCF Anthropology Department. Their research on the ancient Maya is internationally recognized and has been featured in many national and international publications, documentaries, television shows, and exhibits, the most recent being “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed.”

The Chases also direct The UCF archaeology lab, which houses artifacts, notes, and drawings from research and serves as the location for basic processing and for more detailed analysis of artefactual materials.

The Chases have been an integral part of the growth and success of UCF. The College of Sciences wishes the Chases well in their new positions at UNLV and thanks them for their outstanding service to the UCF community.