Announcing Interim Personnel Appointments

Comments from April 18, 2001 Meeting

When I arrived here just over seven years ago, this campus was engaged in the early stages of its long range planning. By the end of the spring semester of 1994, various reports emerged from the task forces and working groups, from which could be culled certain principles that captured the spirit of the ideas contained in the documents. One of those principles was to recognize the ongoing imperative for change. It seems that I am living that change.

Beginning last November with the announcement by Chancellor Scott that he would be leaving his position at the end of June, many other significant changes have occurred, marking this as a time of major transition. As one columnist noted in a recent stor y, six of eight senior administrative positions are undergoing some sort of change.

Chancellor Scott and I believe it is essential to proceed with appointments during this interim period, guided by principles that continue to advance the excellence of the University; that acknowledge the special challenges and opportunities of "in terim" periods; that identify persons who are and/or have been institutional citizens committed to advancing the University cooperatively; that expedite appointments to allay concerns and, to the extent possible, to deflect petulant behaviors; and th at proceed in the spirit of the Board of Trustees Statement on University Governance (T-73-098) a document acknowledging the interdependency among the many constituents of a university who work together on very complex tasks.

I used the words "cooperative" and "collaborative" in brief remarks following the ratification of my appointment as Chancellor (Interim). During the past several years in my interactions with you, I have listened to you express your needs, hopes, and dreams for this University. From my colleagues in CEAC I have heard the desire to communicate more clearly and to listen more acutely to inform leadership and decision making; from the Deans I have observed the passion and tenacity they believe are requisite in advocating for the support of areas (and potential areas) of excellence in their respective schools and colleges; from the leadership of the unions I have heard that lowered and fewer barriers among all parts of the University can contribute to more harmony and fairness; from the leadership of the GSS I have witnessed conscientious and continuous efforts of responsible participation often in the face of complex issues; from the leadership of the SGA I have observed diligence, pers istence, and care throughout the management of challenging student political affairs and organizational matters; from the group reporting through the Deputy Chancellor and Chancellor lines I have observed patience, flexibility, determination and loyalty; and from the Rules and Executive Committees I see an earnestness and frankness in the deliberation and delivery of advice to the President, Chancellor, Provost, and Deans.

You have taught me important lessons over the past several years. I have brought to my deliberations on appointments what I have learned from each of the groups represented here. For that I thank you. I have also tried to bring to these deliberations th e spirit of constructive interdependency acknowledged throughout the BOT Statement on University Governance.

I am pleased today to be able to announce the following appointments. Detailed information about each of the appointments will be available in the press release shortly, but I did want to elaborate on the appointment for Senior Vice Chancellor for Acade mic Affairs and Provost as that appointment will need to be first "Acting" and then "Interim:"

Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost (Acting)

First: Chancellor Scott and I are announcing jointly that Dr. Charlena Seymour, Dean of the Graduate School and Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders has agreed to serve as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affai rs and Provost (Acting) from May 28 to July 1, 2001, and as (Interim) effective July 1, 2001. We are very fortunate that Dr. Seymour has agreed to this opportunity. In the report submitted by the Graduate Dean Review Committee, her colleagues found Dean S eymour's performance during her tenure to be "outstanding" and unanimously recommended her reappointment as the graduate dean. Many letters commented that she represents very well the caliber and integrity of the entire graduate research communi ty. Prior to her tenure as Graduate Dean, she served for eight years as Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders. The impact of her research and scholarship has been global, with invited presentations and keynote addresses around the world inclu ding as well most of the United States. She has been the recipient of awards and acknowledgments for her leadership in and out of the classroom, recently serving as the elected President of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, the national sc ientific and professional association for over 100,000 professionals interested in communication disorders and sciences. Most recently she has been elected as the President of the Northeast Association of Graduate Schools for 2003. The Harvard Foundation of Harvard University awarded her a medal of recognition for intercultural and race relations. Looking at resumes and cvÕs, I can usually find something attractively appropriate or sometimes a little humorous for a particular circumstance or appoin tment: in this case, it is the fact that her own textbook won a noted Award of Excellence in Medical Communication. This bodes well for us, I would say, as there are some who would argue that "medical communication" is an oxymoron. Dr. Seymour s trives for excellence in all communications, undertakings, and accomplishments. Dr. Seymour's perspective is broad and diverse in all she undertakes and accomplishes. I repeat: we are most pleased that she has agreed to serve as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost (Acting) and (Interim).

Deputy Chancellor (Interim)

Second: It is also my pleasure to announce that Dr. John Dubach, Associate Chancellor for Information Technologies and Chief Information Officer and Professor of Physics, will, effective July 1, 2001, serve as Deputy Chancellor (In terim). I recall an early observation of Associate Chancellor Dubach, then Chair of Physics and Astronomy. In preparation for the deliberations and drafting of a strategic plan for information technology for the campus, Dr. Dubach had the responsibility o f working with seven chairs of various subcommittees of the plan and then synthesizing the various documents into a single, coherent plan with a single style while maintaining the seven idiosyncratic preferences of the seven chairs. Watching him accomplis h this feat was a lesson in diplomacy, in leadership, and in levity.

Associate Chancellor for Information Technologies and Planning (Interim)

Third: I am also announcing the appointment of Dr. Rosio Alvarez as Associate Chancellor for Information Technologies and Planning (Interim). Dr. Alvarez is one of our own. Her undergraduate degree is in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (with the supporting field of Computer Science); she also has an MBA in Information Systems and a Ph.D. in Organization Theory and Information Systems. We are appreciative that UMass Boston has agreed to her taking a leave of absence f rom her responsibilities as an Assistant Professor in Management Science and Information Systems for this interim period. When Dr. Alvarez left her Alma Mater three years ago to take a position at the University of Washington Tacoma, many of us who had be nefitted from her insights missed those singular abilities of analysis and synthesis of systems and the interfaces of systems in both the technical and human realms. Now, fortunately, we will all have another opportunity to learn from her.

I do hope you recognize in these appointments the collective of attributes and competencies to which I have referred earlier lessons learned from all of you. I also hope you--the academic leadership, management and governance bodies of this University-- will join with me in welcoming each to new positions of critical responsibilities and commit with me to working cooperatively and collaboratively to advance the many excellences that comprise UMass Amherst.