The Roark building is named for Eastern's first president, Ruric Neval Roark (1859-1909). His wife, Mary , served as acting president in 1909 when her husband died at the age of 50. She served for nearly a year as the school's president and dean of women simultaneously. The Roark Building was built in 1909. It originally was home for the Model Laboratory School at Eastern. Today, the building houses the departments of Earth Sciences, and Geography and Planning, and the office of the dean, College of Arts and Sciences.