We’ve just completed the second week of classes here at ¶¶Òõ̽̽! We are so glad to have students, faculty, and staff back on campus, and I’m excited to get to know everyone as the semester continues.
As you may know, I’m new in this position—I started my work as dean in July after serving 11 years as the Department Head of the Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State University. It’s an absolute honor to return to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ and the Rubenstein School, the place where I earned my PhD.
I’m stepping into this leadership role knowing that the School has been in such good hands these past few years, thanks to Allan Strong. Allan strengthened and nurtured this School during his time as interim dean, and we are all better for it. Please join me in thanking him for his dedication and hard work.
I am thrilled to be working alongside an excellent team in the Dean’s Suite. Our Administrative and Student Services teams are always here to help with questions about course requirements, switching your major, borrowing gear for a field lab, addressing a facilities issue, connecting with alumni, or any other concerns—our doors are open to you.
I came back to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ because of this community’s ability and drive to make positive environmental change happen. Even in the few short months I’ve been here as dean, I’ve seen how passionate our faculty, staff, and students are about their work, their friends and colleagues, and the planet.
Some inspiring recent examples of Rubenstein School excellence include:
- Three seniors in our Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program were involved in an this summer. Caleb May wrote and produced the story about the work Conor Moses and Vegas Rockafeller are doing on a bird monitoring and forest adaptation project with professors Tony D'Amato and Allan Strong.
- Professor Paul Bierman’s new book about his groundbreaking research on the Greenland Ice Sheet .
- Professor Trish O’Kane’s book, Birding to Change the World, being selected as a common read at many schools and universities across the country.
- The dedicated team at the Spatial Analysis Lab .
When you see these folks around campus, let them know what fantastic work they’re doing, and ask them questions about what they do! Be curious; we can all learn a lot from each other.
We have so much to celebrate here within the Rubenstein School. In July, we marked one year since the arrival of the Research Vessel Marcelle Melosira at the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory on the waterfront. And this year marks the lab’s 25th anniversary. Thanks to the extensive, dedicated team who made that dream a reality!
We are also welcoming several new faculty this semester: Dr. Nick Aflitto, Dr. Peter Brewitt, and Dr. Eglée Zent. Please help me in extending a warm welcome to these exceptional scholars.
I’d also like to welcome and introduce our new Experiential and Community-Based Learning Coordinator, Sarah Mell, to the Rubenstein School. Sarah’s expertise, energy and skills will help launch our students into incredible internship experiences and continue to grow our network of community partners.
I am really happy to be working with Jed Murdoch who stepped into his new role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in July. I want to thank Jen Pontius for the years of care and hard work she poured into that role.
I’m thrilled to be back at the Rubenstein School where I will continue to learn from all of you, join you in the pursuit of our Mission Question, and work toward the University’s initiatives in Planetary Health.
It has been a while since I’ve lived in Vermont, and I want to make the most of what Burlington and the state have to offer. Do you have a favorite gravel ride? A trail or ski run you look forward to? A good book to recommend or just a favorite place to sit? Please, stop by my office or send me an email and tell me about it. I’m all ears!
Hope to talk to you soon,
-Peter