By TG BRANFALT JR.
Staff Writer
Eighteen new faculty members were introduced Wednesday by President R. Mark Sullivan during his annual welcome address. Sullivan, who was light-hearted throughout his remarks, will step down after eight years leading the college. His contract ends on August 31, 2012.
Sullivan also welcomed three Fulbright Scholars and the additional staff during a recession mirrored the primarily good news about the college’s finances.
Sullivan updated faculty and staff on several key campus projects, including the $15 million, 225-occupant Centennial Hall being erected on Yates Street, the $3.3 million renovations to the Huether School of Business and the deal to brand the Center for Interactive Media with the Hearst family name. The official naming ceremony will be held September 26.
The groundbreaking ceremony for Centennial Hall will be held August 31 at 3 p.m. The dorm is designed to “bring our students back on campus,” Sullivan said, “To make sure they are living and learning” safely and comfortably following the off campus ‘riots’ last March
Centennial Hall, Saint Rose’s most expansive student housing project in 10 years, is being financed by “Good ol’ American debt,” according to Sullivan, while the renovations to the Huether School are being financed by fundraising and donations.
“We have done very well in spite of the national recession,” said Sullivan concerning college admissions and enrollment, indicating that the college was “quite close” to admissions and enrollment targets.
In addition, Dr. Kari Murad was given the annual Community Service Award by Sullivan. Murad received the award for her contributions in rural and impoverished areas of Honduras and Central America, her work in the Lower 9th ward of New Orleans, with various local community organizations, and for her work with HEIFER International. The college will be donating $250 to the Albany Community Center and $250 to HEIFER International in honor of Murad’s selfless accomplishments.
968 Madison Ave, 188 Partridge St and 210 Partridge St have been re-utilized as residence halls. The new dorms will house 67 students, according to Vice President of Finance and Administration Marcus Buckley “In the long run, [the project will pay] for itself,” Buckley said.
Buckley also gave an update concerning the upgrades to Alumni Hall and the Neil Hellman library, done the “Saint Rose way,” according to Buckley, “A little bit here, a little bit there.” The renovations to the buildings include plumbing, electric and HVAC.
A community center was added to the Plumeri Sports Complex, funded by a 0% interest loan acquired by Sullivan for the college and a $250,000 grant.
The School of Education, the Audiology Lab, Albertus Hall and three faculty offices are also among the list of facilities that received a face-lift over the summer.
President Sullivan’s impending departure, following a 2010 stroke, was only briefly an order of business, introducing the Co-Chair of the Representative Committee of the Faculty Janet Spitz, who, during the address, collected ballots for the Faculty Search Committee Election process of the presidential search.
Scott Brodie will be representing the School of Arts and Humanities; Dr. Mike Hurley, the School of Business; Dr. Ian McDonald, the School of Mathematics and Sciences; and Dr. Marguerite Lodico, the School of Education. The first meeting of the Presidential Search Committee will be held Friday, August 26.
The search, “Will be completed by the next academic year,” Spitz said.
