Post written by: Sean Sherwood
Each year, the Student Affairs Connections Committee has the task of receiving nominations and selecting one faculty member to be awarded the Faculty Connections Award. This award is presented to the faculty member who goes the extra mile with his or her students. This faculty member must strive to create a constructive relationship with his or her students inside and outside of the classroom. The person selected must also create a positive impact on SUNY Cortland students, and establish or maintain opportunities for students outside of the classroom.
This year, the Student Affairs Connections Committee is proud to award the Faculty Connections Award to Dr. Christopher Latimer from the Political Science Department.
Christopher Latimer is the second recipient of this award in recognition of his ability to establish and maintain significant connections with students outside of the classroom. Dr. Latimer is currently serving as the Political Science Association Club advisor and the Pre-Law advisor, as well as an Assistant Professor for Political Science. In all roles he has shown strong support of student initiatives and recognizes the need to keep events student-driven so as to allow members to maintain ownership and a vested interest in same. The nominations speak for themselves as they describe how, “Dr. Latimer is a mentor and a professor who has pushed me in and out of the classroom to reach my full potential.” One nominator highlighted the fact that in their interactions with Dr. Latimer, “He never made me feel like a burden. . . He was always welcoming and helpful . . . He works for his students above anything else.”
Based on the nominations received, it is obvious that Dr. Latimer goes above and beyond what is expected of him to establish excellent relationships with students. He was also noted for establishing “lasting connections with students outside of his regular teaching duties and I am extremely grateful for everything that he has done to help me reach the next phase of my life.”
Dr. Latimer was presented the Faculty Connections Award at the Provost Award Ceremony on May 7th.
The other nominations for this award were Dr. Karen Stearns, Sarah Zipp, Dr. Burns-Thomas, Dr. Eddie Hill, Tim Davis, and Dr. Raymond Collings. These nominees will also be recognized for their hard work and dedication to creating relationships with their students outside of the classroom.
Post written by: Lisa Allen, Career Services
We would like to welcome Greg Sharer, the new Vice President for Student Affairs, who has been in the position since June. He and his family (wife Kathy and daughters Braeden, 13 and Marin, 4) are looking forward to being settled, as they recently bought a house and are in the process of moving. Both Kathy and Greg grew up in New York State, and are enjoying being closer to family. They are finding the Cortland community to be very easy to get around in with lots of activity.
What is your favorite thing about SUNY Cortland so far?
The staff is very committed to working with students and they are very positive about their jobs. They see value in working with students and the students in turn feel that the staff care about them and are supportive. Students are dedicated and hard working and also have a strong identity with SUNY Cortland, as shown by the numerous Cortland sweatshirts and t-shirts you see being worn around campus.
What are your goals for the Student Affairs Division?
* Build on the positives already happening with faculty, staff and students.
* Work more closely with academic affairs to support student learning. He hopes to continue to develop communication that’s open and accepting.
* Move discussion and efforts around diversity forward to maximize the benefit for the entire campus. It is important that conversation is raised across campus around topics of diversity, and that faculty/staff and students are engaged in this process.
What are 2 or 3 initiatives you’d like to work on over the next few years?
1. Moving forward on developing learning communities that make sense for Cortland, as learning communities can mean different things for different campuses. This should give students a home base and connection to the campus, helping students who may not naturally get involved.
2. Work with other faculty and staff on moving campus diversity initiatives forward.
3. Work with staff on developing a strategic plan for the division.
How do you see faculty and staff collaborating effectively to increase student connections to the campus?
Faculty participation in campus events is supposed to add value. These efforts should be very intentional, with faculty participation adding value for both the student and the faculty member. We need to look at what faculty and students value and bring those areas together rather than trying to fit faculty into programs designed for students or vice-versa.
