With the 2016-17 academic year now underway and the college working on the first stages of implementing its recently developed strategic plan, Gustavus Acts, Gustavus has shuffled its administrative team, adding several new members.
Recent developments include the departure of two key members of the Gustavus Administration staff, Provost and Dean Mark Braun and Director of Admissions Tom Crady. Braun’s position has been filled by Brenda Kelly on a temporary basis while the school embarks on a search for a permanent replacement.
For the time being, the responsibilities of Crady’s former position will be divvied up between two Gustavus Alumni and experienced staff members, Associate Vice President and Dean of Admission Rich Aune ‘81, and Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Kirk Carlson ‘95.
Three professors have also been appointed to the Provost’s Office – Eric Dugdale (Classics) will serve as the Associate Provost and Dean of General Education, Micah Maatman (Theatre and Dance) as Associate Provost and Dean of Arts and Humanities and Julie Bartley (Geology/Environmental Studies) as Associate Provost and Dean of Sciences and Education.
They will focus on revamping the Gustavus curriculum in a manner that dovetails with the strategic action plan, with a renewed focus on interdisciplinary study and student agency.
“My hope this year is to work with our team and with faculty leadership to set in motion the framework for an innovative, sustainable curriculum and faculty staffing plan,” Bartley said.
Overhaul in the Gustavus curriculm has been in the works for a while now.
“I am impressed by the deliberative and consultative process by which we as a faculty are revising our general education curriculum,” Dugdale said.
Creating the best curriculm Gustavus can offer has been a common goal of the Gustavus faculty and staff.
“I’m looking forward to collaborating with and working with faculty,” Maatman said. “Because we have come from the faculty, we have shared their concerns for a number of years, and so we’re able to effectively think through those things with them and anticipate as well as incorporate those concerns into our new way of doing business.”
Moving over to the Finance Department, longtime Treasurer Ken Westphal retired after 28 years of service to the college. He’ll be replaced by Tom Rooney, who previously served as Chief Financial Officer, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Treasurer of the Corporation at St. Catherine University.
As CFO of the College, responsible for overseeing strategic financial planning, financial operations, human resources, campus facilities and physical plant, and auxiliary services, Rooney will work with President Bergman and other members of the Gustavus administrative team to provide leadership as the college enters the begining of the Gustavus Acts implementation.
“I want to carry forward the incredible work of Ken Westphal, my predecessor, who retired after 28 years at Gustavus,” Rooney said. “It’s an honor and a blessing to have the opportunity to take over for Ken as CFO.”
Gustavus is also welcoming a new Head of Human Resources, Julie Kline. Kline previously served as Associate Vice President for Human Resources at Hamline University and has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and organizational operations. One of her first tasks in the new role has been to continue the search for a full time Title IX Coordinator.
“I’ve been impressed with the caliber of the candidates,” Kline said.
Noting that the process has now reached the point of scheduling face to face interviews with qualified candidates.
“It’s been helpful to work with a staff willing to learn new things and be part of a larger vision for Human Resources at Gustavus,” she said. “We have a lot of exciting opportunities to assist with strategic initiatives that will benefit our students and employees.”
Ann Peterson ‘83 will be returning to the hill as Director of Advancement. She previously served Gusties in the Admissions and Advancement Offices from 1986-1997, and most recently as Director of Development at Luther College, where she was involved with a series of campaigns that raised some $186 million for the college. As Director of Advancement, she will oversee alumni and parent relations, major, planned, and annual giving, and donor relations as the College embarks on a Strategic Action plan full of bold aspirations.
“The goals of the Gustavus Acts 2016-2026 Strategic Plan are visionary and ambitious, and in the coming months and years our advancement team looks forward to partnering with our many generous donors to help bring these plans to fruition,” she said.
The College will welcome Fath-Allah Oudghiri as Director of Physical Plant. Oudghiri brings more than 25 years of architecture, facilities, and project management experience to the position. He served at the University of Notre Dame for 11 years and most recently led the San Bernardino Community College District’s facilities planning and construction initiatives.
Oudghiri has lived on campus for the first 60 days of his tenure, enabling him to learn the name of every building on campus as well as meet every member of the Facilities Management Department. Oudghiri is leading an initiative to turn the former Physical Plant Department into a full service Facilities Management Department, with units devoted to Project Management & Sustainability, Maintenance Services, Utilities Services, Building Services, Landscape Services and Transportation Services.
The department is also working with Gustavus Technology Services to create easy to use Facilities Management Department website.
“I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to lead the Facilities Management Department at an esteemed institution such as Gustavus Adolphus College,” he said