Inspiring Excellence: Gary Kecskés' Educational Odyssey with LTU

Gary A. Kecskés, B.S.Arch. 1977, B.Ar. 1978, M.Ar. 2001, is a proud alumnus of Lawrence Technological University.

Born to loving, second-generation American parents, Kecskés’ long journey with LTU started in 1973, when he began his undergraduate years. As a retiree, Kecskés admires and appreciates the education he gained at the University. He goes on to describe his experience as “in a multitude of ways [that have] profoundly influenced my life and career, leaving an indelible mark upon my journey.”

Growing up, higher education was not only a consistent discussion but an expectation for Kecskés set from an early age by his parents. “I can vividly recall discussions about the need to earn a college degree,” Kecskés explains. It was such expectations that led Kecskés to channel his curiosity as a young child into hours of experimentation, with a particular interest in architecture, design, and urban communities. As a child, Kecskés looked forward to visiting Downtown Detroit, where he admired the numerous iconic landmarks, including the Detroit City County Building, the Old Wayne County Building, the Guardian, Buhl, David Scott, Ford, Penobscot and Michigan Consolidated Gas Buildings, Ford Auditorium, the Veterans Memorial Building, and Cobo Hall. Each building’s rich history was unveiled, and meticulous attention was paid to the intricate architectural details and artistic elements that adorned the historical landmarks. It was these experiences that laid the foundation for his enduring passion for architecture, design, and the world of art. This appreciation formed at a young age, starting in elementary school, as Kecskés adds, “The teaching of local social studies came to life for me, and this, in hindsight, served as the bedrock for my enduring fascination with urban design.”

LTU's interdisciplinary, experiential, and research-oriented education, which encourages hands-on experience and real-life application, has helped Kecskés achieve 43 years of success. As Kecskés puts it, “Lawrence Technological University held a distinctive place in my life’s journey and provided a unique nexus for me. I was both an undergraduate and graduate student, recipient of several awards, proud alumnus, invited studio critic, and an ongoing contributor over much of my life. I owe much of my career success to Lawrence Tech and its excellent faculty.”

Kecskés’ gratitude and multi-dimensional appreciation for LTU go beyond the classroom, as he has been a full-time administrator, a director, an instructor—both as an adjunct and interim faculty member—and a consultant to LTU. Kecskés’ time at LTU was monumental, helping to launch many new initiatives to advance and uphold the distinct education Lawrence Tech provides. He was a proud member of the student chapter of the American Institute of Architects (SCAIA), formed a collaboration with the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) that allowed the DIA and LTU to jointly sponsor exceptional lectures annually, managed student advisory and registration for the College of Architecture and Design (CoAD) for over 700 students annually, assisted in out-of-state recruitment for CoAD, and was appointed as CoAD’s first Architecture Gallery Curator. As Kecskés grew within LTU, his involvement expanded. “My commitment to LTU extended to participation on various college and university committees. I actively contributed to the institution’s student scholarship selection process by serving on the College-Wide Scholarship Committee.”

Kecskés role within LTU led him to become the inaugural director of the University's Division of Continuing Education and Professional Development. Kecskés, along with his team, developed groundbreaking programming for all LTU colleges by providing additional learning opportunities for alumni and positioning the University as a business solution provider for local employers. He was responsible for launching LTU’s first distance learning program serving adults in seven states at 13 sites in conjunction with the Association of American Railroads. Additionally, he led his team to work collaboratively with university faculty in the production of numerous conferences, each producing significant revenue for the institution. “I took great pride in nurturing the creative talents of countless aspiring students, whether in architecture and design, cooperative engineering, the technical communications program, or through the Insurance Institute,” Kecskés adds.

After 18 years of professional service at LTU, Kecskés went on to become the Executive Director of the University of Michigan’s Center for Professional and Corporate Development; Director of Economic Development in Tampa, Florida; Senior Urban Designer for the City of Sarasota, Florida; Dean of Community Outreach for Housatonic College in Connecticut; and Assistant Vice President of Community Education for a suburban Chicago college.

Kecskés is thankful to have learned from many distinguished professors such as Robert Champlin, Bob Sassak, Morris Jackson, Thomas Hines, Harvey Ferrero, Denis Schmiedeke, and many others during his undergraduate years. He is thankful for the education LTU provided, the opportunities he was given, and the success attained through theory and practice and experiential learning that welcomed curiosity and innovation. Kecskés is not shy about showing his gratitude to the University and all the success and opportunities technological education has provided him. “I hold Lawrence Technological University in the highest regard, cherishing the many chapters of my association with the institution. One of the best career decisions that I ever made was to enroll in and earn undergraduate, professional, and graduate degrees from Lawrence Tech. My education also allowed me to distill ideas, clarify complex issues, and develop pragmatic solutions to a multitude of challenges.”

At LTU, we strive to provide opportunities to continuously propel the future of education; we seek to train students to be technologically savvy, interdisciplinary-oriented, and experimental for the careers of the future. Successful alumni like Gary A. Kecskés embody the values of the university. We are an independent college with a public mission.

by Nurzahan Rahman