By CHRISTOPHER SURPRENANT
Managing Editor and
CONOR SHEA
Features Editor
Dr. Carolyn Stefanco has been selected as the 11th president of The College of Saint Rose following unanimous approval by the presidential search committee. Out of four finalists, Stefanco was chosen because of her experience with international issues as well as her background in education.
“This is a great time for our college. She will be a great leader for our campus. Her experience with both domestic and internal affairs is consistent with our goals. She’ll take us to the next level,” said Dr. Hadi Salavitabar, provost of The College of Saint Rose.
Stefanco is currently serving as vice president for academic affairs and dean of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga. She is the first of the college’s five vice presidents. In the Division of Academic Affairs, she supervised academic programs, oversaw curriculum, faculty and staff recruitment, study-abroad programs, as well as technology integration.
Speaking to a room full of students, educators, and media, Stefanco expressed her enthusiasm becoming a part of the Saint Rose community.
“I very much want to know the students and to work with the students, I was a professor myself for 20 years, in the classroom and while I won’t be meeting students in that capacity, I fully expect to be at sporting events, and in the cafeteria, meeting with student government, whatever it is that’s appropriate here. Hopefully having groups of students to my house as well, the president’s house,” she said.
While she has only spent four years at Agnes Scott, she held several leadership and education positions at institutions such as Californian State University, California Polytechnic University, and Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
Her years of experience have made her sensitive to the current issues campuses like Saint Rose are facing.
Stefanco’s experience in education is one of the many qualities faculty and staff at Saint Rose admired from the beginning.
“I think that the challenges that Saint Rose faces are the same challenges that most institutions face, especially since the Great Recession. We really need to make sure that we enroll significant enough sized classes, and make sure that we have a balanced budget, that’s always key.”
“We want to continue to develop our faculty and our staff professionally, make sure that we provide them with the resources they need, and that’s including things like compensation, not just professional development, and we want to make sure that we have the highest quality academic programs. They’re already high, but we always want to work on improvements. And maybe launching some new things too, to meet student demands and interests,” she said.
Stefanco’s zest for change and forward-thinking were noted by many in attendance.
“It was clear from the beginning that she was the right choice for Saint Rose. I’m delighted. It’s welcome news for our campus,” said Salavitabar.
Dr. Kim Middleton, dean of the English Department, shared Salavitabar’s sentiments. “I’m delighted. She was my first choice. I think the fact that she has so much experience at many different institutions will be a boon for us. Her background in teaching and learning is a perfect fit for us,” she said.
Stefanco’s focus on the international community meshes well with the ongoing efforts of the College to engage globally. She was a Fulbright Scholar to the Univeristy of Zagreb in Croatia and created study-abroad programs for faculty and students in South America and Europe.
Judith Calogero, in a statement made prior to the official announcement, said that “Her international experience in London and as a Fulbright Scholar in Croatia will enhance what Saint Rose is already doing to globalize the campus.”
While Stefanco will not officially begin her duties until July 1st, she made it clear that she is ready to jump in as one of the College’s newest Rosebuds.
“What I love about it is that it’s a big enough place that it’s a comprehensive college, but yet it’s small enough that there’s a great sense of community. [It’s] an incredible opportunity to come home.”
