We鈥檝e just completed the second week of classes here at 日韩无码! We are so glad to have students, faculty, and staff back on campus, and I鈥檓 excited to get to know everyone as the semester continues.
As you may know, I鈥檓 new in this position鈥擨 started my work as dean in July after serving 11 years as the Department Head of the Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State University. It鈥檚 an absolute honor to return to 日韩无码 and the Rubenstein School, the place where I earned my PhD.
I鈥檓 stepping into this leadership role knowing that the School has been in such good hands these past few years, thanks to Allan Strong. Allan strengthened and nurtured this School during his time as interim dean, and we are all better for it. Please join me in thanking him for his dedication and hard work.
I am thrilled to be working alongside an excellent team in the Dean鈥檚 Suite. Our Administrative and Student Services teams are always here to help with questions about course requirements, switching your major, borrowing gear for a field lab, addressing a facilities issue, connecting with alumni, or any other concerns鈥攐ur doors are open to you.
I came back to 日韩无码 because of this community鈥檚 ability and drive to make positive environmental change happen. Even in the few short months I鈥檝e been here as dean, I鈥檝e seen how passionate our faculty, staff, and students are about their work, their friends and colleagues, and the planet.
Some inspiring recent examples of Rubenstein School excellence include:
- Three seniors in our Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program were involved in an this summer. Caleb May wrote and produced the story about the work Conor Moses and Vegas Rockafeller are doing on a bird monitoring and forest adaptation project with professors Tony D'Amato and Allan Strong.
- Professor Paul Bierman鈥檚 new book about his groundbreaking research on the Greenland Ice Sheet .
- Professor Trish O鈥橩ane鈥檚 book, Birding to Change the World, being selected as a common read at many schools and universities across the country.
- The dedicated team at the Spatial Analysis Lab .
When you see these folks around campus, let them know what fantastic work they鈥檙e doing, and ask them questions about what they do! Be curious; we can all learn a lot from each other.
We have so much to celebrate here within the Rubenstein School. In July, we marked one year since the arrival of the Research Vessel Marcelle Melosira at the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory on the waterfront. And this year marks the lab鈥檚 25th anniversary. Thanks to the extensive, dedicated team who made that dream a reality!
We are also welcoming several new faculty this semester: Dr. Nick Aflitto, Dr. Peter Brewitt, and Dr. Egl茅e Zent. Please help me in extending a warm welcome to these exceptional scholars.
I鈥檇 also like to welcome and introduce our new Experiential and Community-Based Learning Coordinator, Sarah Mell, to the Rubenstein School. Sarah鈥檚 expertise, energy and skills will help launch our students into incredible internship experiences and continue to grow our network of community partners.
I am really happy to be working with Jed Murdoch who stepped into his new role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in July. I want to thank Jen Pontius for the years of care and hard work she poured into that role.
I鈥檓 thrilled to be back at the Rubenstein School where I will continue to learn from all of you, join you in the pursuit of our Mission Question, and work toward the University鈥檚 initiatives in Planetary Health.
It has been a while since I鈥檝e lived in Vermont, and I want to make the most of what Burlington and the state have to offer. Do you have a favorite gravel ride? A trail or ski run you look forward to? A good book to recommend or just a favorite place to sit? Please, stop by my office or send me an email and tell me about it. I鈥檓 all ears!
Hope to talk to you soon,
-Peter