TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A Troy administrator concluded his time at the university after 38 years of service last week.

Sohail Agboatwala, having most recently served as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, has been at Troy University since 1988, when left his home country, India, to begin his studies at what was then Troy State University. Over that time, the university has given him a lot of memories

“I think every memory would involve people,” Agboatwala said. “We all have special people in our lives who have brought us to this point – mine are my wife and kids and my friends, even ones that have retired or graduated from Troy.

“All the moments that are special are the moments that are when you connect with the people.”

As a freshman, 38 years ago, his first university job was dishwasher at the Dining Hall, which at the time was in the current International Arts Center building. He then started helping some of his athlete friends in classes that they had together, and after a few semesters became the university’s athletic tutor.

After graduation, he stayed to build a career at the university and was put in charge of the academics for the Trojan football team. From there he advanced to managing fundraising for athletics and eventually the entire university and after some years of continuing to move up, he became the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, the position he held until September 30.

He built that entire career path from nothing but years of getting to know the community and the people of Troy.

ORIGINAL STORY: Sohail Agboatwala to retire, Student Affairs Division reorganized

“I came from 10,000 miles away; I knew maybe two, three people here,” Agboatwala said. “You can get anywhere from here and the opportunities are out there, but you still have to go meet people, connect with people, and then actually show that you care and prove yourself as you go.

“I tell everybody one simple thing: get to know people and network, network, network.”

In all that time, while he may be from India, he’s built not only a career but a life for himself that wouldn’t have been possible without Troy.

“Well, I can’t miss home because I am home,” Agboatwala said. “Anytime you make a major change in your life it’s always bittersweet, you know?

“You think to yourself, ‘What have you done? What have you known’ and for 38 years I’ve known nothing but Troy.”

His time as administrative staff at the university may be over, but his time at Troy is not. His youngest daughter will be starting at Troy next fall like her brother and sister before her. He said he intends to stick around and help out all he can around the university and the community.

“I’m not dying,” Agboatwala said. “I’ve been telling everybody around me to beware because now I can come in here and just tell you what I think.

“I mean, you don’t have to listen to me, but I just hope that if there’s anything I can impart based on my 38 plus years of experience – somebody asks for my opinion and I will tell you what I think.”

Now that he is retired, he plans to spend some more time with his family, particularly his new granddaughter as well as some of his family in India, who he hasn’t seen for longer than a week since he’s been living in the United States.

Even though he doesn’t plan on going anywhere, he’s not going to be on campus talking to students every day like before. In case he doesn’t get the chance to tell enough students in person, he left some advice for anyone looking to leave a similar impact to what he’s left on the university.

“Please take it upon yourself to get out and put yourself out there because unless you do that, it’s just not going to happen for you,” Agboatwala said. “My main advice is network, connect, build relationships and at the end of the day; be genuine.”