4/26/2007 - Albright College

The Albrightian
News
April 26, 2007
Dean cont’d from pg. 1
from thing to thing. I’m really
hoping I’ll be able to get
to know the students better
here, to focus better, and to
use the benefits of a smaller
community to help it grow.
I know you answered this
in the open forum, but why did
you decide to leave Hofstra?
I have known for some
time that I wanted to be in
a smaller environment. I
really value the liberal arts
curriculum, and then with
Albright’s interdisciplinary
opportunities, I really
thought that was great. I really
thought that I wanted to
be in a smaller place, I wanted
to be able to work more
closely with the students,
and I wanted to be in a place
where the academic piece
had a focus that I could connect
with. The challenge as
a dean of students in a place
of Hofstra’s size [was that] I
had some involvement with
the academic side, but not as
much as I would’ve liked.
How do you intend to
hear the voice of all the students,
even those who aren’t
as vocal or activity-oriented
as others?
By September I’ll have
a better plan for you. One
of the things that struck
me when I met the students
here was that people
said first-year students and
sophomores aren’t involved
in a lot of activities. I need
to know why. So I may do
some really targeted focus
groups with those populations,
whether they’re in my
home, whether they’re at
meal time, but I really want
to do some targeted work
with those groups regarding
the involvement piece.
Clearly with the majority of
students living on-campus, I
want to find out more about
the residential experience.
I’ve heard really great things
and then I’ve heard some areas
of concern. Obviously on
my list is to talk to students
who are moving off campus
and find out about their experiences.
So really how I
am going to do it is just by
having a very strategic plan
of how to reach different
populations of students, and
I hope the students will be
open to that.
Do you have any ideas
how to keep more students on
campus and what you think
they value in a residence hall
and a college community?
There are a lot of ideas I
have about what I think students
value. I believe they
value a safe, comfortable
environment; understanding
of course that there are
rules and responsibilities in
the community. But feeling
like they have a place where
they can express themselves
and be themselves. A place
that, after they’re done with
their full-time jobs, which
is their academic work, that
they can be comfortable, relax.
Where they have conveniences—where
they can
come and go if they have
a part-time job. It’s your
home. It’s your home away
from home. Again, I need to
hear more about what Albright
students in particular
feel is important. I’m curious
if there are enough activities
that meet people’s needs.
From what I can see it looks
like student activities does a
great job. The range of activities
is terrific, but if for
some reason it’s not meeting
students’ expectations or
needs, then I need to look at
that.
What do you most look
forward as you start your new
position?
The coffee I had at Jake’s
Java was outstanding, so I’m
hoping I’ll begin my first day
by grabbing a cup of coffee
there and then just spending
time with students and
the cabinet. What I’m really
excited about is that I have a
position that bridges student
life and administrative life in
a really beautiful way. Every
administrator has been about
student success and student
growth, in this place. That’s
fabulous. To work in that
kind of administratively
supportive environment is
just wonderful.
So what do you think
about Jake’s Java?
I love it. I had a latte; it
was outstanding.
What is your favorite aspect
of the dean position?
I’ve been really lucky
that I’ve made connections
with students early in
their academic careers and
I’ve watched them sort of
growth up through college.
So I would say … watching
students graduate successfully,
knowing that they had
all this great opportunity,
and they’re just starting on a
world of new opportunity.
Are there experiences you
had as an undergraduate that
you think would help you in
this position, or have helped
you as dean at Hofstra?
I think I actually wound
up with a career in students
affairs because of my experience.
I showed up on
my first day at college from
out of state to find that I
was tripled, which I didn’t
know I was going to be, in a
double-sized room. And the
two other women had gotten
there first, and my bed was
broken. And there was a dead
plant in the room. And they
were not nice. And it was
just not a smooth transition.
I had to be relocated halfway
through the fall, just when I
was finally getting used to
things. It’s pretty funny because
the woman who was
my supervisor for 16 years
was the director of housing
when that happened, so we
joke about it all the time.
She feels badly about it. So
I think that I know how
important it is to have a really
positive beginning and
a comfortable one. And actives
and programs need to
be designed to help people
adjust to campus smoothly.
And then administratively,
I know that it’s important to
communicate clearly and to
pay attention to details.
Albright prides itself on
diversity. What role do you
think it plays on a college
campus?
I think that as humans,
it’s important for us to be
aware of differences and to
respect differences. I think
that…in an educational
community it goes beyond
important. I think it’s our
responsibility to learn about
differences, to nurture differences,
and ultimately to
celebrate differences through
education, programming,
parties, and to celebrate
our similarities. Diversity
means so many different
things to so many different
people. One person can say
cultural, someone else can
say religion, someone else
can say orientation. I think
it’s our responsibility to be
cognicent of the full range
of differences in diversity,
and that the educational environment
is the best way to
celebrate that.
So what do you do for fun
or to relax? Do you have any
hobbies?
Well, I’m currently
working on my doctorate,
but I also like to cook a lot
and I enjoy baking, especially
around the holidays.
I’m a cookie person. I like
going to bookstores with
my daughter. I always liked
going to bookstores before
my daughter, but now I particularly
enjoy it. You know
how bookstores have a special
kids section; well, she
just gets so in to it. It’s really
fun. I’m also hoping to become
an avid exerciser. I’m
hoping to find a new balance
in my life, and I do really
like to swim. So I’m excited
about Albright’s pool.
Where is your favorite
vacation spot?
Cape Cod. We go to this
little area called East Ham.
Favorite pizza topping?
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Editor in Chief
Kristen Landis
Asst. Editor in Chief Meghan Hurst
News Editor
Rob Lowry
Features Editor
Renée Blessington
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Allison Saft
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OFFICE STAFF
Sausage. It’s a toss up,
sausage or mushrooms.
Are you a big coffee
drinker?
Oh, yes. Starbucks, not
Dunkin’ Donuts. Starbucks.
While we’re on the topic,
do you rather Barnes and Noble
or Borders?
Oh, Barnes and Noble.
Definitely.
What is one place you
would like to visit in your lifetime?
Italy.
Have you traveled anywhere
else?
I’ve been to the Caribbean.
I’ve been to England,
Belgium and France. I’d like
to see Rome and Tuscany.
Okay, one last question:
What does the position of dean
mean to you, personally?
It’s a big part of my
identity. It always concerns
me when people equate
dean of students with dean
of punishment. My role is to
be an advocate, a counselor,
a cheerleader. To sometimes
say no, of course, but to explain
why. To help support
the growth of the institution
and the growth of the students
and to really be there
for the community.
Reporters
Kristen Landis, Dan Nester, Meg Shaw, Megan Lamiotte, Andrew
Petrillo, Meghan Hurst, Renée Blessington, Sam Levine, Allyse Wolfinger,
Jessica Bilello, Christiann Ryerson, Rob Lowry, Kimberly Thompson, Scot
Santoski, Julia Fluck, Kathleen Peightel, Roger Pittman, Michael Weekley,
Alyssa Rohrict, Adam Daney, and Kellie Connors.
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