Beginnings!

The beginning of an academic year is always an exciting time. Most of the students have had a break from classes for the summer and are looking forward to resuming their studies and connecting with friends on campus. Faculty have had time to reflect on their classes as well as the opportunity to engage in research and creative activity and are looking forward to a new academic year. Staff have had the summer to catch up with projects and to reflect on how to proceed with other projects and processes in a slightly less hectic environment.

I have always found the beginning of the Fall semester my favorite time of the academic year.
Of course, the School of Arts and Humanities (and the university as a whole) had a beginning last year with the shift from quarters to semesters and the new General Education program. Faculty members will naturally still be in the process of revising courses in their teaching portfolio through at least this year as a result of this shift.

The beginning of this academic year is especially exciting because of the construction of the new Humanities Office Building (or “HOB” as some are affectionately calling it). Faculty, staff, and students are all no doubt curious as to how that will look in terms of faculty offices and the Student Center and how the School can thrive with this new building.

This is also a beginning for me as Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at CSUB. A native Southern Californian, I have spent the last 26 years of my career at a regional state university in Pennsylvania. I have deep interests in all the disciplines in our school and I am very excited to have the opportunity of working with you all.
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Good luck to everyone this academic year!