Welcome Back!
Welcome to the beginning of another great academic year. I always get excited when students come back to campus. I am reminded of our basic mission of educating teachers and scholars, and I am continually impressed with the quality of our students.
I am characterizing this year as "The Year of the Initiative." My first year as Director can be thought of as just getting to know the ropes. Last year we concentrated on developing the political and economic infrastructure to enable investment in and acceleration of our programs. This year I am glad to say that we have a robust budget, the infrastructure in place, and we are ready to engage the faculty and students in putting forth strategic initiatives that will take our programs a quantum level forward.
Of course, I have my own ideas about what this might entail, (technology, increased grantsmanship, data streams from our professional programs to name a few), but this is really about engaging the faculty to dream big and develop plans to make these dreams a reality. We will invest some of our residual dollars garnered by the entrepeneurship of the faculty. In addition I personally will be meeting with our philanthropic community to match investors who have the resources to do good with their dollars with faculty who have the crazy idea they can change the world. I anticipate great things.
NOTES:
This year, we have added about 400 freshmen to our ranks. This is a strategic move to provide a better sense of community to our students in the years prior to enrolling in our professional program. Gia Taylor and the OSS staff are busy orienting them and providing exciting community and academic opportunities specially designed for young aspiring educators. You will see me as a judge in this year's academic bowl competition.
Chris Faltis will be delivering our keynote speech to the assembled doctoral students this week. He will be using blues and jazz music as an analogy for the disciplined but creative work that we do. All doctoral students, faculty mentors, and staff are encouraged to attend. Thursday, 5:00 - 7:00, Payne L-127. Food will be served!
Please welcome our newest faculty member, Dr. Elizabeth Kozleski! She is coming to us from CU-Denver and Health Sciences Center. She is bringing her national center (which was won in conjunction with Alfredo Artiles), and is determined to redefine the nature of inclusion to reflect the diversity of our children, their cultures of origin, and their individual and collective capacities.
When I came to ASU 13 years ago, we were a great place. I am happy to say that we have gotten better every year, and this year we are poised to take our rightful place at the forefront of recognition and impact in the nation.
I am characterizing this year as "The Year of the Initiative." My first year as Director can be thought of as just getting to know the ropes. Last year we concentrated on developing the political and economic infrastructure to enable investment in and acceleration of our programs. This year I am glad to say that we have a robust budget, the infrastructure in place, and we are ready to engage the faculty and students in putting forth strategic initiatives that will take our programs a quantum level forward.
Of course, I have my own ideas about what this might entail, (technology, increased grantsmanship, data streams from our professional programs to name a few), but this is really about engaging the faculty to dream big and develop plans to make these dreams a reality. We will invest some of our residual dollars garnered by the entrepeneurship of the faculty. In addition I personally will be meeting with our philanthropic community to match investors who have the resources to do good with their dollars with faculty who have the crazy idea they can change the world. I anticipate great things.
NOTES:
This year, we have added about 400 freshmen to our ranks. This is a strategic move to provide a better sense of community to our students in the years prior to enrolling in our professional program. Gia Taylor and the OSS staff are busy orienting them and providing exciting community and academic opportunities specially designed for young aspiring educators. You will see me as a judge in this year's academic bowl competition.
Chris Faltis will be delivering our keynote speech to the assembled doctoral students this week. He will be using blues and jazz music as an analogy for the disciplined but creative work that we do. All doctoral students, faculty mentors, and staff are encouraged to attend. Thursday, 5:00 - 7:00, Payne L-127. Food will be served!
Please welcome our newest faculty member, Dr. Elizabeth Kozleski! She is coming to us from CU-Denver and Health Sciences Center. She is bringing her national center (which was won in conjunction with Alfredo Artiles), and is determined to redefine the nature of inclusion to reflect the diversity of our children, their cultures of origin, and their individual and collective capacities.
When I came to ASU 13 years ago, we were a great place. I am happy to say that we have gotten better every year, and this year we are poised to take our rightful place at the forefront of recognition and impact in the nation.
posted by James A. Middleton @ 8:39 AM
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