Title: Dean of the School of Education
How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s? 18 and a half years
What do you enjoy/have you enjoyed most about teaching? I most enjoyed working with students and challenging their thinking. Our students have made enormous journeys to get to us, and helping them take one more formal step toward success has been great. I enjoyed trying to figure out better ways to get something across — in the classroom, online, and as a supervisor. I enjoyed watching students develop and grow in what they do and who they are.
How do you hope you are remembered/what will you most be remembered for? I don’t need to be remembered, but I guess I would like to be remembered as someone who focused on responsiveness — collaborating and improving what we do and how we do it. As a School of Education, we have sent a remarkable number of teachers and leaders into the world, and those people are having a big impact. I would like that to be remembered.
What are you most proud of from your career? I am incredibly proud of having been named a Distinguished Lasallian Educator. In a network and school full of dedicated teachers, to be called out in that way was a big surprise. To have worked within that network, including national and international contacts and activities, was really an honor. I also enjoyed working on projects that involved the whole university. I enjoyed being with faculty as a colleague, program director and dean. I believe we effectively managed rigor, relevance, relationships, and dollars and found some joy in the work along the way.
What are your retirement plans? My plans include spending more time with grandchildren, some fishing, some golf, some board work, Spanish, yoga (trying anyway) and continuing to learn. I want to leave room to see what else the
universe might have in store for me.
What will you miss the most? I will miss the interactions with many dedicated professionals, faculty, students, and administration. Maybe the correct answer is “the community.” I will miss making things work together — yes, even the challenges. Perhaps not challenges on top of issues on top of difficulties. I can probably do without that.
