[img1]Friends and colleagues celebrated departing Information School dean Mike Eisenberg's works on Friday -- with a roast.

Scores of people from across the University and the country showed up to poke fun at everything from Eisenberg's love of sports to his uncompromising ambition. Even President Mark Emmert showed up to say a few words.

"There were a lot of underlying messages about his contribution to the field," said assistant professor Hala Annabi, who is in her second year at the Information School (iSchool).

Eisenberg, 57, will remain on the faculty focusing on his scholarship and teaching. His original problem-solving model, the BIG6, is the most widely used approach at K-12 education in the world.

"I'm really committed to this University," Eisenberg said. "I would never want to go any place else. I'm going to stay here until I retire."

He decided to step down as dean after a heart attack in Nov. 2004. Harry Bruce, whom Eisenberg brought in from Australia when he first arrived at the UW, has taken over as dean.

Eisenberg joined the UW faculty in 1998 when the iSchool was a modest program of 70 faculty and 150 students, in one graduate degree program.

When Eisenberg interviewed for the position he told the search committee point-blank that "what we should do is everything as quick as we can." Eisenberg demanded more faculty, more room, more degree programs and an independent school.

"It's like playing poker," he said. "I'm expecting they'll bluff or they'll fold. But instead they called me on everything, and so I caved."

Eisenberg relocated to Seattle from Syracuse University, where he had been a faculty member since 1984. Eisenberg immediately brought in experts from around the world to build the program.

Since Eisenberg's arrival, the UW's iSchool has grown to become nationally recognized as one of the top schools in the country. There are more than 600 students in four degree programs, which range from undergraduate to Ph.D. programs. The school has secured more than $7 million in research funding and is looking toward receiving $5-10 million annually.

"It's been a great, great ride and I've loved every minute of it," Eisenberg said. "I've worked my brains out, but I love working my brains out."

Apart from his work with the iSchool, Eisenberg has taken a leadership role in other areas at the University. He has chaired various search committees including the one that hired athletic director Todd Turner.

Eisenberg will not begin teaching again until next fall. Until then he is adjusting to his new position.

"It's the first time in 18 years that I'm keeping my own calendar," he said. "It's kind of nice."

Cris Mesling, Eisenberg's assistant since 2003, reflected on his generosity and his energy. She said that Eisenberg would sometimes give her his Husky Card and send her out to buy coffee for everyone in the office.

"He would ask the staff for their opinions," Mesling said. "He was always very inclusive."

Mike Crandall, chair of the Master of Science and Information Management Program, who has known Eisenberg for eight years, agreed.

"He's really a warm person. He connects with people very easily," said Crandall.

Eisenberg shows himself to value his colleagues as much as they do him.

"I'm going to miss my staff," he said. "I was surrounded by tremendously loyal and can-do people who matched my style. They got into it. The staff would never say to me, 'Mike, you can't do that.'"

Even though he is no longer dean, Eisenberg still has great hopes for the iSchool.

"We've gone from this modest, unknown library school to one of the top information schools. So what do we do now?" he said. "Well, now we change the world. Now we coordinate and collaborate with our friends in computer science and public affairs and business and public health across the campus to really address the tough issues of our society."