Diana Gonzales Says Farewell
Christopher Memoli
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: News
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"It's very sad for me to leave here. Manhattan College is my home," said Gonzalez, who will be leaving to start a new life in southern New Jersey next month.
Gonzalez received her bachelor's degree at Manhattan College. She is also currently finishing graduate school to receive her Masters degree in class counseling here at Manhattan.
Gonzalez has loved her job, she says. It is rare that a student looking for academic guidance leaves her office without talking with Diana about his or her personal life. In this way, she has been more than just an academic advisor; she has become a friend to her students.
"Diana Gonzalez truly cares about her students. She has helped me so many times in the past," says junior Miguel Fores.
If Diana Gonzalez fits in so well at Manhattan College, why is she leaving? "I'm not leaving for another job," she says. She is simply relocating with her family to New Jersey. There, she will use her Manhattan College education to start a new career, which she hopes will be in high school counseling.
The Arts department has seen many changes in recent months. The School of Arts office recently went under construction to add more office space. An additional office is now located next to Gonzalez and is occupied by Diana Cruz. She was hired to be a second academic advisor to lighten Gonzalez' workload.
"Believe me, it has been stressful," Gonzalez says of her job counseling 830 students. With the addition of Diana Cruz, Diana Gonzalez's job has been cut in half. Because of this, students will not have to wait in long lines, which could interfere with their class schedule.
The school has just started the search to replace Gonzalez, meaning the administration have only one month to find a replacement. After she leaves, the new advisor, whoever he or she may be, will have a tough task filling Gonzalez shoes.
Most students in the School of Arts have had Gonzalez as their advisor through their entire college life. Due to this, many students are concerned with who the replacement may be.
"I'm very content with Diana Gonzalez as my advisor. I became comfortable talking with her. I don't know who the new advisor is going to be," said Steven Corvino, a junior in the School of Arts.
All of Gonzalez students will be transferred to the new advisor. Diana Cruz will stay in her position as co-academic advisor and maintain her half of the school of arts students.
Diana Gonzalez wants all of her students to know that she will miss them the most when she is gone. Also, she will miss her boss and mentor, Dean O'Donnell, and all of her colleagues. Many of her students and colleagues express that they will miss her as well.
Gonzales has one last message for the students at Manhattan College. "I will miss you all, I love you dearly, and make sure you treat the new advisor and Diana Cruz and Dean O'Donnell as dearly as you have treated me."