Anchor Amidst Currents of Change: Dean O'Donnell Stays Until 08-09
Courtney Roy
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: News
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In light of the recent decision to cut ties with the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Dr. Mary Ann O'Donnell, Dean of the Arts, has been asked to extend her term until the 2008-2009 school year to help smooth the transition for students.
As Manhattan College builds its own communications department and brings the sociology, psychology, and biology departments completely to Manhattan campus, administrators expressed special concerns about the students in Arts programs undergoing change. With a new dean, a new academic advisor, and changes in faculty, administrators were concerned that these changes would cause too much of a disruption for Arts students, especially those in programs previously based in the cooperative program.
According to the Provost, Dr. Weldon Jackson, the decision was based on "extensive discussions with Mary Ann about the transition and the dissolution of the Manhattan-Mount relationship, and why that transition would benefit from her experience and insight about the programs."
In order to minimize the impact of the changes resulting from the split, Jackson and Brother Thomas Scanlan asked O'Donnell to keep her position during the transition to not only help students through the process, but to help build the majors affected by end of the cooperative program.
"There is going to be a lot of change, and it was my belief that the students need a stable and familiar voice to guide them through this transition," Jackson said.
O'Donnell echoed Jackson's sentiments: "We want to make this transition as seamless and transparent as possible. Our main concern is making sure that this works for students."
As programs are in the process of building and reworking, both Jackson and O'Donnell remain optimistic about the future of Manhattan College and the new possibilities that the split with the College of Mount Saint Vincent will bring about.
"We have worked with wonderful people at the Mount, but this is Manhattan's chance to shape the programs," O'Donnell said. "The word for this time is excitement."
As Manhattan College builds its own communications department and brings the sociology, psychology, and biology departments completely to Manhattan campus, administrators expressed special concerns about the students in Arts programs undergoing change. With a new dean, a new academic advisor, and changes in faculty, administrators were concerned that these changes would cause too much of a disruption for Arts students, especially those in programs previously based in the cooperative program.
According to the Provost, Dr. Weldon Jackson, the decision was based on "extensive discussions with Mary Ann about the transition and the dissolution of the Manhattan-Mount relationship, and why that transition would benefit from her experience and insight about the programs."
In order to minimize the impact of the changes resulting from the split, Jackson and Brother Thomas Scanlan asked O'Donnell to keep her position during the transition to not only help students through the process, but to help build the majors affected by end of the cooperative program.
"There is going to be a lot of change, and it was my belief that the students need a stable and familiar voice to guide them through this transition," Jackson said.
O'Donnell echoed Jackson's sentiments: "We want to make this transition as seamless and transparent as possible. Our main concern is making sure that this works for students."
As programs are in the process of building and reworking, both Jackson and O'Donnell remain optimistic about the future of Manhattan College and the new possibilities that the split with the College of Mount Saint Vincent will bring about.
"We have worked with wonderful people at the Mount, but this is Manhattan's chance to shape the programs," O'Donnell said. "The word for this time is excitement."