Reflections on 2009-2010 - Dean Michael Green
There are many reasons to celebrate our accomplishments of 2009-2010 in Academic Affairs at the College. To begin with, we had many searches resulting in new administration and faculty for next year. Ann Damiano joins LVC as our new Associate Dean; Jennifer Easter steps into the Director of our MBA Program; Maureen Anderson, an LVC graduate, was hired as an Access Librarian; and we have searches ongoing for an Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Continuing Education and an Assistant Registrar. We will welcome the following new faculty members to campus in the fall:
· Michelle Bonczek – Department of English
· Robert Carey – Department of Biology
· Treva Clark – Department of Business Administration
· Carmen Garcia-Amero – Department of Foreign Languages
· Mat Samuel – Department of Digital Communications
· Barry Smith – Department of Mathematics
Digital Communications is approved for departmental status and we approved a new major in International Studies. Eighteen faculty participated in a pilot classroom observation program during the fall semester in additional to workshops hosted by CETL to support teaching pedagogy and development. Eight faculty gave presentations on their sabbatical work and many others presented their research and scholarly work through the Faculty Colloquium Series. The research accomplishments of all of our faculty were also announced each week in Faculty News of this newsletter. Our distinctive Colloquium Series included presentations and movies that focused on the way new technologies are affecting society today. Next year, this series focuses on health-related issues that will include a week-long residency of Woodrow Wilson Fellow Diane Jorkasky in February.
We are especially proud of the great work of our students both in and outside of the classroom. Many of our Pleet Initiative Projects (faculty/student research) were presented through art installations, conference presentations and publications, web projects, and the hosting of a conference on Social Challenges for the 21st Century.
Another exciting venture was our new partnership with the Innovation Transfer Network(ITN), an organization that acts as a bridge between education and business to accelerate technology transfer and leverage innovation in the marketplace. Our Chemistry and Digital Communications Departments have begun partnerships that link our programs with area businesses. We are looking forward to an expanded relationship with ITN in the upcoming academic year.
The campus was saddened by the passing of Professor Diane Iglesias during the fall semester. In a memorial service on campus, she was honored by her students for her dedication to teaching Spanish language and culture courses as well as her support of student study abroad experiences.
Sid Pollack retires as Professor Emeritus of Biology after thirty-three years of teaching; Barbara Anderman, Associate Professor Emerita of Art History also retires after eight years of teaching; Chris Brazfield leaves for other career opportunities after ten years teaching in the math department; Deanna Dodson rejoins the psychology faculty after serving as Associate Dean for six years. And finally, after many years of service in the Office of Graduate Programs and Continuing Education – Elaine Feather will retire in June. Congratulations to all of these individuals.
Even with some challenging times, I want to thank you all for making this a productive and eventful year.