Welcome from the Dean of the Faculty
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings and welcome to the start of the 2018-19 academic year. I hope that you had
a refreshing and productive summer and that you are ready for the beginning of the
fall semester.
My first few months at the College have been both invigorating and rewarding. Since
my arrival in mid-July, I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to attend a number
of College events, including several concerts at the Zankel Music Center, the Frances
Day open house at the Tang, the Palamountain Scholarship Benefit, a reading by Joyce
Carol Oates sponsored by the New York State Summer Writers Institute and the Faculty
Student Summer Research poster session, among others.
Last week, I was delighted to join Kristie Ford, the Director of the Center for Leadership,
Teaching, and Learning, in welcoming some 46 new members of the faculty and, this
past weekend, I enjoyed participating in my first New Student Convocation. I have
also enjoyed meeting many faculty and staff members and learning more about your contributions
to Skidmore, as well as your concerns and aspirations. I am looking forward to continuing
that process of getting to know you during the coming semester.
Whether or not we have already met, if you happen to see me on campus or are in the
Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs office, please say hello.
It’s going to take me a while to get to know everyone and I’ll need all the help you
can give me. Of course, if you would like to schedule an individual meeting with me,
please go ahead and contact Brooke Toma.
I feel very fortunate to be succeeding Crystal Moore as the DOF/VPAA. I’m enormously
grateful to her for serving as interim prior to my arrival and she has been extremely
generous in helping me with the transition and in sharing her deep knowledge of the
institution and its processes. I am also very grateful to the rest of the DOF/VPAA
office staff—Ron Seyb, Pat Fehling, Sue Blair, Debbie Peterson and Brook Toma—who
have all been tremendously helpful and generous in sharing their knowledge of Skidmore.
It’s an exciting time to be joining Skidmore. As I’m sure you all know, a new general
education curriculum was recently approved, construction has now begun on the first
phase of the Center for Integrated Sciences, the search for a Director of Black Studies
to help launch a Black Studies minor is moving ahead, interest in Skidmore among prospective
students continues to grow, and the College is maintaining great progress in its capital
campaign, Creating Our Future: The Campaign for Skidmore.
To be sure, there are challenges ahead, outstanding issues to be resolved, and new
initiatives to consider. My initial goal during the coming months will be to continue
to learn as much as possible about Skidmore by looking and listening. Nevertheless,
my first few months at the College have already confirmed the initial impression I
formed during my interview that Skidmore has an outstanding faculty and staff, dedicated
to serving our students and committed to realizing Skidmore’s mission. I’m excited
to be joining the Skidmore community and consider it a privilege to have the opportunity
to serve as the DOF/VPAA. I am very much looking forward to working with you over
the coming weeks and months to further our collective vision for the College.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone for extending such a warm welcome to my wife,
Alyson Chapman, and me over the past few months. You have made us feel very welcome
and we are delighted to be here.