It seems like just yesterday I stepped onto the Westfield State University campus for the first time as president. It has been an honor to serve the University in this role, and we have much positive change to celebrate as a campus community. In just seven months, we have experienced many transitions and improvements, all with our students’ success at the core.
One of my first acts as president was to send out a survey to University stakeholders to better understand the wants and needs of the entire campus community. Survey results revealed our community is committed to creating an environment that fosters student success. Knowing that, I have great confidence in our ability to improve retention, increase graduation rates, and lower the achievement gap.
Continuing our unwavering focus on our students, we will implement a fouryear plan called “The Westfield State Experience.” The Experience involves taking an active role in students’ academic success. It begins with introducing them early on to courses and seminars that better orient them to the high caliber of collegiate study and ultimately will involve seniors in career-focused, practical projects that will prepare them for the workforce or graduate studies. It is my hope that this plan helps our students complete their undergraduate studies as well-rounded, socially responsible citizens, poised to positively impact the communities in which they will work and live.
In February, we launched the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work. I allocated $200,000 for this important project and faculty and staff worked diligently to make the vision a reality. The purpose of the Center is to provide increased institutional support for students and faculty who engage in undergraduate research. Moving forward, the Center will serve as a valuable resource for staff and faculty alike as research increasingly represents a crucial, constant part of our curriculum.
Keeping with the campus’ altruistic spirit, new and re-energized initiatives have come into play recently. Common Goods, a campus food pantry, was created. Through this important initiative, the campus will assist in the greater fight against hunger
by providing assistance and nourishment to students, faculty, and staff who are experiencing food insecurity. And, faculty
and staff came together to re-establish the Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Advisory Committee.
I am looking forward to working closely with this vital committee to increase our recruitment and retention numbers for
students of color.
In addition to the warm welcome I’ve received from the full campus community, the start of my presidency has been met with comparable support from stakeholders beyond campus. I’ve enjoyed my early collaboration with Westfield State’s committed and thoughtful Board of Trustees, its dedicated and talented faculty and staff, and its wonderfully curious and energetic student body. Likewise, I appreciate the gracious welcome by the City of Westfield and its surrounding communities. It has been a pleasure
meeting with various organizations in Westfield and the surrounding area to strengthen existing city-university partnerships and create new collaborations.
Finally, as part of our heritage, Westfield State University alumni have served as a vital link to the University’s important past
and a helpful sounding board on its future. I have met many alumni from near and far, and I am heartened to consistently hear about the significantly transformative role our wonderful institution has and continues to play in their lives. I hope to meet many
more alumni in the months to come, and I hope to welcome many back to campus in the fall for my Investiture and at Alumni Homecoming Weekend.
