Newly selected dean of humanities, student affairs personnel begin jobs
A new dean of humanities was recently selected, and major changes to the Student Affairs division were made including a new student center director, a student center assistant director, two new assistant directors of student activities and an assistant director of career services.
Stanford history professor Judith Brown was named the new dean of humanities on Aug. 21.
Brown obtained her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She earned her Ph.D. in history from Johns Hopkins University in 1977.
"Dr. Brown's outstanding record of scholarship and her lifetime commitment to outstanding teaching, together with her ability to handle complex academic assignments, makes her well-qualified for this leadership position at Rice," President Malcolm Gillis said.
Brown succeeds Allen Matusow, who stepped down as dean of humanities on June 30 after 14 years in the post.
Brown, 48, is the recipient of several awards. These include a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1986, a Fullbright Fellowship in 1973 and an Honorary Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1968. She was also nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in History in 1986.
"Rice has an excellent faculty and very fine students, and I want to make sure everyone knows just how fine they are," Brown said. "I want to work with them to get the national recognition they deserve."
Two topics Brown plans to address after she arrives at Rice are the internationalization of the university and improvements to Fondren Library.
"My interest is in opening up the curriculum to a wider cultural world," Brown said. "This is not just an academic interest for me but stems from my personal background as a woman born and raised in Latin America."
Brown also emphasized the importance of the library.
"I am interested in the library because libraries are the laboratories for humanists," she said. "I want to make sure Rice continues to have a library that helps to attract and retain the best faculty and students."
Brown, who arrives on campus today, is married with two children.
New Student Center Director Steve Sutton was the Director of Student Activities at the University of Miami before being appointed to his post at Rice.
Sutton obtained his bachelor of science degree in microbiology from Ohio State University in 1985. He received his master's degree in higher education and student affairs from Ohio State in 1987.
Sutton arrived at Rice on June 26. He replaces David Anderson, who took over management of the Graduate House last fall.
Vice President for Student Affairs Zenaido Camacho said the responsibilities of the Student Center director changed with Sutton's appointment.
"Previously, the Student Center director was there to make sure the building was clean and occupied," he said.
"I want a Student Center director who will bring in programs."
Sutton has spent much of his time orienting himself to the Rice community.
"A big part of what I've been doing is just trying to meet students," he said.
He has a number of ideas for improving the Student Center including improving programming in the facility and improving communications among the Student Center staff.
He also indicated that he would be working with Student Association President Maryana Iskander and Hanszen College President Glenn Levy to install computers in the Student Center.
Sutton has a number of other suggestions for improving the building. They include renting out retail space on the first floor, making magazines and newspapers available at the front desk and creating listening rooms for students.
Sutton emphasized the importance of student involvement in the decision-making process.
"One other thing I would like to promote ... is having decisions coming from the students," he said.
Sutton is currently looking for an assistant director for operations. He was also involved in the search for a new Student Center assistant director, Mona Hicks.
Student Center Assistant Director Mona Hicks hails from Dallas. She did her undergraduate work as a pre-med student at St. Edwards University in Austin.
Hicks plans to help run the newly formed Women's Resource Center.
She will be advising the Coffee-House committee and the Rice Program Council and will be on the Student Center Advisory Board.
Hicks will also work with the Advocating Diversity and Career Exploration (ADVANCE) organization.
Catherine McKay , assistant director of student activities, was formerly the assistant coordinator of the student volunteer service at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
"My slant is going to be more [on] the educational projects," McKay said.
She will focus on tutoring adult education and literacy programs. McKay was attracted to Rice because of its volunteer program.
"The fact that Rice had one [volunteer program] was particularly exciting to me," she said.
She is also one of two Rice Student Volunteer Program coordinators.
The other new assistant director of student activities and RSVP coordinator is Heather Syrett .
Syrett received a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the State University of New York in Oswego. She obtained a master of arts degree in student affairs from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).
She was a coordinator of service opportunities at IUP for over a year.
Syrett focused on service learning, a skill which the search committee was looking for, Wiess College senior Carmen Peralta said.
"She's super-energetic and has a great marketing background," Peralta said.
Syrett said she will be working with RSVP, Habitat for Humanity and Best Buddies. "I'm working with community service volunteer opportunities.
"Hopefully, you'll see one of us in your colleges trying to meet some new students over there," Syrett said.
Colleen Maloney is the new assistant director of Career Services. She will be working with the Joint Venture program.
Maloney will also be organizing career workshops.
Other new Student Affairs personnel are:
* Linda Cooper , assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs
* Stephen Subtelny , health professions advisor at the Student Center
* Vicki Seefeldt , student organizations secretary
* Minerva Garcia , secretary in the Rice Counseling Center
This item appeared in the News section of the September 1, 1995 issue.
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