{"id":125635,"date":"2020-08-07T11:37:49","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T17:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=125635"},"modified":"2020-08-13T07:23:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T13:23:11","slug":"uccs-welcomes-new-deans-of-college-of-business-and-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=125635","title":{"rendered":"UCCS welcomes new deans of College of Business and College of Letters, Arts and Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Deans Karen Markel (left) and Lynn Vidler (right) introduced themselves to campus and the Colorado Springs community at virtual town hall events.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members\nwelcomed UCCS\u2019 two newest deans to campus during virtual town hall events this\nsummer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karen Markel<\/a>, new dean of the College of Business, began her tenure at UCCS this June. Shortly thereafter, Lynn Vidler<\/a> began their own tenure as new dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Both deans addressed the campus and community during virtual welcome events and answered questions about their strategic visions for their respective colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remarks by Chancellor Venkat Reddy highlighted the vital\nroles the deans will play for UCCS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Click to watch Dean Markel’s town hall event.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As he welcomed Markel to UCCS, Chancellor Reddy remarked, \u201cWhat\nimpresses me most about Dean Markel is her unwavering focus on the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe may be facing challenges, but we\u2019re also facing a real opportunity, if we\u2019re innovative enough to take it. Dean Markel is focused on making the College of Business even more flexible, innovative and resourceful than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she spoke about her strategic vision for the College of Business, Markel shared, \u201cWhat struck me in my time on campus, both in my interview and during [an] accreditation visit, was how committed the faculty, staff and business community were to ensuring the success of the college.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to learn about how the college can help serve the community and vice versa. Our students often come from the region and intend to stay, and we want to ensure that they have the skills and experience to secure opportunities in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In welcoming Dean Vidler, who uses they\/them pronouns,\nChancellor Reddy spoke to the new dean\u2019s strong intercultural competence,\ncommunication skills and relationship-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, more than ever, we all need strong communication\nskills and the ability to build relationships \u2013 whether or not we\u2019re able to\nmeet in-person to do so. We all need cultural competency and an appreciation of\nour diverse skills, values and abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Click to watch Dean Vidler’s town hall event.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese times may not feel perfect,\u201d Reddy continued. \u201cBut I do believe this is the perfect time for Dean Vidler to be joining the Mountain Lion Family.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their opening remarks, Dean Vidler spoke to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new strategic plan and a shift to a new budget model as \u201cmoments of transition” for UCCS and for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInasmuch as we\u2019re focused, in the short term, on ensuring the health and safety of our faculty, staff and students, there\u2019s actually a future out there,\u201d Vidler remarked. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t want us to lose sight of how the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is going to drive forward to that future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler shared the guiding priorities and values that shape\ntheir approach to the position, from developing individuals\u2019 skills and\nabilities at UCCS, to the intertwining of diversity and creativity, to the\nimportance of integrity in campus culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler also called upon every member of the UCCS community\nto step up, speak up and take action if they feel called to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLeadership is an activity, not a position,\u201d they said. \u201cYou lead when you speak up about issues of diversity and inclusion on our campus. You lead when you help to create and disseminate new knowledge. Every one of us has the ability to contribute by engaging other people to make progress on challenges that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Markel named dean of the College of Business<\/a><\/blockquote>