Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Asbury announced yesterday that he will be stepping down from his post, effective June 30.

There has not been any announcement about who will replace him.

Colleagues and student leaders alike say they will miss Asbury's bulldog determination and good-humored attitude.

Asbury could not be reached for comment last night, but he said in an e-mail to colleagues that his decision is bittersweet, but is right for him at the current time to take advantage of other opportunities, but he did not elaborate.

Arthur Carter, assistant vice president for student affairs, said Asbury feels that he has accomplished enough to end his career at Penn State.

Bill Mahon, university spokesman, called Asbury "a wonderful advocate for students."

"He's really represented the university and the students to the university," Mahon said. "It's hard to envision working here without having Bill around."

In the last several years, Asbury oversaw the expansion of the HUB-Robeson Center, as well as the ongoing extension of Eisenhower Chapel. He also helped plan the addition of the MBNA Career Services Center and the campus newspaper readership program. He received the Golden Key Honor Society's Advisor of the Year Award this summer.

"He'll really be missed in terms of his insights about the budget and being able to do more with limited resources. ... I hope people really know about his unselfish use of time," Carter said, adding that he has seen Asbury working regularly in his office well into the night and on weekends.

Carter said he is a "hands-on leader."

"I would describe him ultimately as a football captain -- he calls the plays," Carter said, acknowledging Asbury's background as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1966 to 1969.

Carter also described Asbury as straightforward with a strong personality during discussions.

He said fellow colleagues always need to remain focused when around Asbury.

"He has a very subtle humor that strikes right at the heart when he wants to get a point across," Carter said.

Carter said he believes Asbury will still follow student affairs while he is retired.

Rubina Javeri, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) president, said she has known Asbury since she was a freshman. "I've never had a negative interaction with him," she said.

Javeri said when she was a sophomore, Asbury told her in a meeting that he expected good things from her and the other student leaders she worked with. Since then, she knew he would be there when she needed him, she said.

"It was good to have an ally in the administration," Javeri said.

She said Asbury recently helped USG get Loop service back Saturday mornings before football games.

Despite Asbury's dedication to his work, Javeri said he always comes up to her and jokes around when she sees him at events.

"If you don't approach him, he will most likely approach you," Javeri said.

Carter spoke about another side of him.

"He'll like to get you on the racquetball court and that's not a place you'd like to be," Carter said. "He's darn good at it."