Hello, and happy Monday! Today is the official first day of the Fall 2023 semester for our students. I imagine you are as excited as I am to welcome them back. The energy is positive and contagious on campus.

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge our new staff members across academic affairs. Many are brand new to the university while others have transitioned from other parts of campus. As hiring is often fluid, this may not be an exhaustive list so please shoot us an email with those we may have missed and we’ll include the names of additional new employees in a future communication. In the meantime, please welcome:

Academic Advising Center

• Lori Cortez-Regan, Academic Advisor

• Jessica Schacor, Administrative Support Coordinator

• Janaee Sykes, Academic Advisor

• Isaac Torres, Academic Advisor

Academic Personnel Services

• Elizabeth Posten, APS Office Coordinator

• Samm Sanchez, New Faculty Support Coordinator

Center for Teaching and Learning

• Shi Feng, STEM Instructional Designer

• Elise Hazel, STEM Instructional Designer

• Gabriel Munoz, Administrative Support Assistant

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

• Jeremy Wilson, Dance, Music and Theatre, Administrative Support Assistant

College of Extended Education and Global Engagement

• Devinney Brashear, Budget Analyst

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

• Antoine Chery, Stockroom Coordinator, Wildlife, Fisheries and Forestry

• Devin Ketchum, Makerspace Coordinator

• Robert Mizer, Engineer, Coral Sea

• Cristina Tusei, Stockroom Coordinator, Chemistry

College of Professional Studies

• Bella Gray, Student Placements & Community Engagement Specialist

Library

• Maddy McLaughlin, Administrative Business Specialist

Office of Academic Affairs

• Steve Ladwig, Director, Director, Transformative and Restorative Education Center (inclusive of Project Rebound and Pelican Bay Bachelor’s Program)

• Nate Cacciari-Roy, Budget Analyst

• Julie Stewart, Administrative Support Coordinator

Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (ODEI)

• Fernando Paz, Campus and Community Development Coordinator

Sponsored Programs Foundation

• Jennine Crane, IRB Coordinator

Thank you and Well Done!

Thanks to each of you for attending the Academic Affairs Welcome Back on Thursday, August 17, 2023, as well as the incredible Professional Development Day on Friday, August 18, 2023, focused on the Institutional Anti-Racism Action Plan. Body Percussionist Jason Nious opened the event, followed by Keynote Speaker Dr. Clyde Wilson Pickett of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and the University of Pittsburgh's Vice Chancellor of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Wilson introduced us to NADOHE's Framework for Advancing Anti-Racism Strategies on Campus. Special shout-outs to Dr. Rosamel Benavides-Garb, Pearl Podgorniak, Fernando Paz, and Dr. Enoch Hale for their coordination of this successful event. 

Strategic Plan for Graduate Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt: Call for Taskforce Members 

Lastly, I announced at the Academic Affairs Welcome Back that one of our three Academic Affairs strategic priorities this year will be focused on developing a strategic plan for graduate studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. The idea is to continue to elevate the student experience and evaluate strengths and opportunities in this domain. I will be forming a task force to complete this work and am asking interested people to submit their names to OAAVP@humboldt.edu by August 31, 2023. Everyone who expresses interest in joining the task force will be notified by September 11, 2023, whether they have been offered a spot on the task force or not. I predict we will have more interest than there is room to accommodate but will ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute in meaningful ways.

Thanks and have a wonderful Monday.

Jenn

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