Friday Focus: Forgiveness, remembrance and meaning
Kathy Catron, Chief of Police
April 11, 2025
—&Բ;By Kathy Catron, Chief of Police
Voluntold. "Voluntold" is a slang term that means to be forced or persuaded to do something you would not have otherwise chosen to do. It’s the opposite of volunteering, which is when someone chooses to do something.
This dear reader, is the story of how I, Chief of Police Kathy Catron, came to write this April edition of Friday Focus.
Now, I didn’t volunteer to write it, not because I don’t appreciate the value of Friday Focus. Oh no, it’s because I had no idea what to say about my upcoming retirement after 24-plus years at UAF. Me, at a loss for words? Shocking, I know. But here we are. My first thought? "Well, ‘buh bye’ is under 500 words!" But I figured I owed it to this platform, and to you all, to do better.
April 30, 2025, will be my last day at the UAF Police Department. And while I’m excited about retirement, leaving this place isn’t easy. I’ll miss the people and the meaningful work we’ve done together. Purpose has always been my thing, it’s been my jam, and for over two decades, I’ve had it in abundance. What I did and who I did it for mattered.
Over the years, I’ve shared a lot of “Kathyisms” (trademark pending), little nuggets of wisdom, and quirky stories to make a point. My favorite is about what I’d need before I die. Sounds grim, but stay with me. I’ve never been one to value material things. Instead, I’ve held tight to three words: forgiveness, remembrance, and meaning.
I hope you’ll carry those with you. Forgive and be forgiven. Be remembered by even one person. And know that your life, your work, has meaning. UAF gave me all three of those things and more.
Now, here’s where I try to inspire you (brace yourselves). Volunteer or embrace being voluntold for something, even when it’s scary or you just don’t feel like it. Do the right thing, even when it’s awkward or painful or makes you look bad to others. And forgive yourself. When you fail, when others fail, and when your gut instinct is to point it out (maybe loudly), choose grace.
Move forward together with the amazing people at UAF. Commit to serving others, and you’ll find your life enriched in ways you didn’t think possible.
To all of you, thank you. You’ve brought meaning to my life, and I will forever be grateful. Oh, and next time you get voluntold, think of me, laugh, and make the most of it. You might surprise yourself and enjoy the experience.
“A special thanks to Vice Chancellor Julie Queen. Julie, after 45 years of bosses you’ve been the best. Through all of the ups and downs tackling challenges together, it was more of a wild ride than just a journey and it meant the world to me.”
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF's leadership team every week. On occasion, a guest writer is invited to contribute a column.