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What a lovely time of year to be on the Queens College campus. The foliage is ablaze with autumn colors, and I am enjoying the cool air during my laps around the track.
Over my years as an administrator as well as in my previous life as a faculty member, I’ve learned that effective communication is key. It is something I’m continuously working on. I believe that the launch of monthly Academic Affairs Update will help to establish a regular venue for conveying information that affects the academic enterprise at Queens College. While it’s not possible for me, as an individual with limited capacity, to know and convey the vast amount of information that might be of interest, I do hope that these Updates will become a predictable and welcome addition to your inbox each month.
Good communication requires a solid foundation, and strong relationships are the basis of that foundation. Building these relationships has been a major focus of my time and attention during these early months. Across the course of this academic year, I will meet one on one with each department chair. The purpose of these meetings is to get to know those dedicated individuals who, in my estimation, have the most difficult—and the most important—job in all of academic administration. Department chairs: You have my admiration, respect, and support, and I am truly enjoying getting to know you. I’ve also traveled to Manhattan to spend the day with Anthony Tamburri, dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute and Soniya Munshi, who is the interim executive director of the Asian American / Asian Research Institute. Last but not least, this year I am supporting our sister institution, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico – Guayama Campus, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education by leading a reaccreditation team. I trust that all of these relationships, whether local, city-wide, or regional, will serve to strengthen and enhance the fabric of our Queens College community.
Another important way in which we communicate is through our web pages, and I will be the first to admit that the Office of the Provost web pages need some TLC. To that end, I have assembled a working collaboration between my staff and the ITS team to enhance our online presence and ensure that the material posted is accessible, accurate, and useful. Stay tuned.
Let me take a moment to share some updates on personnel changes in the Office of the Provost. As of July, Meghan Healey has stepped into the large (and stylish) shoes left by Alicia Alvero, to serve as the Interim Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs (those of you who know Meghan know that she has her own collection of very stylish footwear). Also joining us is Minonska Castellanos, who will assist Associate Provost Healey and serve as a resource for department chairs with respect to three-year adjunct appointments, faculty workload, and many other faculty affairs matters. Pat O’Connell’s role has been elevated to executive director of QC Global, and I look forward to his leadership as Queens College continues to make inroads in the international education and global partnerships space. And it is with a keen mixture of pride and sadness that we bid adieu to Richard Cardenas, who has recently begun his new job at CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs.
In closing, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for your kind notes and words of welcome. After just a few short months, Queens College is beginning to feel like home.
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