In a historic announcement on May 12, Dr. Don O’Meara, RWC Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, revealed RWC’s choice for the Dean position. Contingent upon the UC Board of Trustees approval on May 21, Dr. Dolores Straker will replace departing Dean Barbara Bardes, beginning September 1, 2003, and will become the first African-American Dean of Raymond Walters College. Dean Bardes announced last year that she would not seek a third term.UC Provost Anthony Perzigian and Associate Dean O’Meara both acknowledged the hard work and efforts of the Search Committee, chaired by Dr. Victoria Montavon. “Through the committee’s efforts, a deep and diverse pool of candidates was identified, and Dr. Straker emerged with the exceptionally strong support of all of the College’s stakeholders,” said Provost Perzigian.
Dr. Straker comes to RWC from the City University of New York, where she served as University Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The City University of New York is a “commuter university,” Dr. Straker stated, much like RWC itself.
Provost Perzigian stated that Dr. Straker brings “a rich blend of accomplishments, credentials and academic values to her new post.”
He optimistically announced that Dr Straker’s “commitment to excellence and to the academic needs of students and faculty signals a bright future for the College and the University” and he asks all to welcome and support Dr. Straker in her new position of leadership.
Dr. Straker stated one of the reasons she was attracted to RWC was its strong focus on teaching, noting that “two year colleges are wonderful contexts in which to do a lot of teaching,” an aspect that she feels strongly about.
Dr. Straker has two passions in her role as an educator and administrator: “I am passionate about students and the work that they do in preparing themselves for the future, and about the faculty and staff that work with them to help realize their life goals.”
It is this enthusiasm that guides her leadership style, Dr. Straker said. “As I have endeavored to empower students to have confidence in their abilities as successful learners, I have worked to empower faculty and staff in such a manner that they may best accomplish their roles as teachers or administrators.”
She feels that it is important to create a “nurturing atmosphere in which faculty and staff can develop as well as create the same for student learning.”
Dr. Straker sees herself as an “accessible person,” hoping that students feel comfortable in contacting her for assistance. She said that she has an open door policy and is “open to hearing both positive and negative,” laughingly stating that she hopes for more of the former.
Dr. Straker’s first order of business for RWC is to “learn the culture of the school” by “listening to people talk,” she said. She plans to accomplish this by “visiting with the various constituencies, listening to what their perspectives are of today and learning about the history of the school from students and faculty.” You will most likely see her “walking and talking with the students,” she said.
“I look forward to exciting times ahead and working with the students, faculty, staff and community for the future growth of Raymond Walters College,” said Dr. Straker.