VP for academic affairs goes to Antioch
On Thursday September 19, Keene State College President Dr. Anne Huot announced Provost Melinda Treadwell’s departure from KSC to Antioch University in January 2014.
Earlier in the fall, President Huot announced a nationwide search to replace Treadwell after the end of her interim position. In an interview with KSC Equinox News Editor Karina Barriga Albring in Volume 66 Issue 1 of The Equinox, a story entitled “Changes in office a keynote for the year,” Treadwell stated she would consider reapplication. Treadwell said, “If I meet all these characteristics, and can serve the college, well then absolutely, I will apply.”
In a message to faculty and staff on Monday, September 23, 2013, President Huot announced that the college added Steve Leo from Storbeck/Pimentel to assist in the while Treadwell is on maternity leave, a leave that occurs in October. At a Student Assembly meeting September 24, Huot said that it has not been decided yet who would act as interim provost during Spring 2014. As the search for another provost begins, Dr. Gordon Leversee will take Treadwell’s place. Treadwell will now leave KSC for Antioch on January 2, 2014, six months short of the intended interim position completion date. Huot said at Student Assembly that Provost Treadwell is “very excited about her new position.”
Julie Conlon can be contacted at
jconlon@keene-equinox.com
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VP for student affairs retires
Brittany Ballantyne
Administrative Executive Editor
He belts the song “Under the Boardwalk” from his office, eats popcorn every day from the Night Owl Cafe during the school year and will be missed not only for his professionalism, but for who he is as a person, according to his co-workers. Vice President of Student Affairs, Andy Robinson, has announced his retirement from Keene State College after over 20 years of work. Robinson began his KSC career in 1991, and has since affected many people including Barbara Preston.
Preston, who works beside Robinson in his office, said she believed the number of people he has affected is “well into the thousands.” She explained that his door is constantly open, “and whether it’s a student involved in Student Government, an organization, or just a student having a hard time, they’re always welcome to come in and meet with him. Even the ones who are struggling for one reason or another leave here feeling better,” Preston said.
Robinson had worked with struggling students more specifically when he first began his KSC career as Associate Dean for Student Affairs, which was his title for over a decade. Here, he said he dealt with numerous issues students had. He listed off problems such as conduct issues and students who chose to take a leave of absence. “In that position, I was learning what’s not working. What are reasons why students leave? What are problems that occur, why are students getting in trouble?” Robinson said.
Some of his fondest moments at KSC, Robinson said, were watching those same students who had issues or difficulties their freshman year, walk across the stage at commencement. He loved being able to read their names off as they collected their diplomas, remembering where they started and how far they’ve come. “It’s such a wonderful experience, it brings tears to my eyes sometimes,” Robinson said.
He explained that stereotyping students has no place with him. “They’re [students] all here because the admissions office thinks they can be successful, but beyond that they’re all different, the kind of things they think are important. So, dealing with any student is really dealing with an individual and making sure you don’t make any assumptions,” Robinson said.
Coordinator of Student and Community Relations, Allison Riley, said she has observed how Robinson treats not only his co-workers, but students, with respect. “I think students feel like he’s approachable and supportive,” she said.
Riley said Robinson has taught her how essential it is to appreciate the hard work people do for one another in the work force. According to Riley, Robinson has always been fast to thank her for her efforts and pays attention to everything his staff does. The relationships Robinson has formed with others has shown Riley that “you can be in a position of being in charge and overseeing a lot of things, but you can still be this down-to-earth-person,” she said.
Robinson pointed out that just like students, faculty members are individuals who need to hear that they are appreciated. According to Preston, Robinson treats everyone equally.
“He’s a very calming force, so one of the things that I’ve learned is that you just really have to stay calm in situations that may initially rattle you a bit, and that’s kind of his personality. I think in the end when you’re able to do that, you make better decisions and you’re able to communicate more effectively,” Riley said.
Riley said one of her favorite memories of Robinson was the first time she spoke with him on the phone. In their first conversation, Riley was “attempting to be professional,” as she was inquiring about a job at KSC years ago. She had addressed him as Dr. Robinson, but he quickly told her to simply call him Andy. “I remember that, because to me, that really sort of represents who Andy is,” Riley said, and further noted that his warm and real personality makes others feel as if they are close enough to be a relative or neighbor.
When asked how he knew he was ready to retire, Robinson said the combination of age and other things he wants to do with his life were factors. “Things come together to help you feel like, okay, this is the right time,” Robinson said.
Preston said, “I think he’ll enjoy himself but a much more leisurely, relaxed pace.” Riley said she would not be surprised if he continued to be involved with the college in some fashion.
In terms of what he has learned since he was first employed at KSC, Robinson said he’s learned “how hard people work here [KSC], that includes faculty and staff and I think how focused on students we are, it’s almost without exception that people work in a college because that’s what they like to do. They’re not making huge loads of money, they’re here because they like it.”
As far as the replacement for Robinson’s position goes, he assumes whoever is hired “will have the skills and knowledge, I hope they’ll bring an appreciation for KSC and be able to understand our history, who our students are, who our faculty and staff are, how we work together,” he said.
Riley said the next vice president of student affairs should be an upbeat person who is “professional but also down-to-earth.” She said that while the student affairs office is already doing a lot to improve KSC life, she is excited for someone to come into the office with new ideas.
Preston said, “I think he’ll be sorely missed by lots of people on campus. His sense of humor, his caring for the campus I think will be missed.”
Brittany Ballantyne can be contacted at
bballantyne@keene-equinox.com