Welcome to the Spring 2022 semester. There is nothing like starting the semester off with a major snow storm followed by a cold snap. I hope you all are safe and warm this weekend.
As you know, we are moving to a mostly in-person mode of instruction this semester. Over the last several days, a collaborative team from CAAS, the Registrar’s Office, Student Affairs, the Health Center, and the Deans, schedulers, and chairs have worked closely with the Provost’s Office to ensure that our students are able to obtain schedules that meet their needs for Spring 2022, and that those who are fully vaccinated have access to campus. We remain under a CUNY and NY State mandate that everyone should be masked indoors at all times unless alone in an office.
As we start the new semester, we are welcoming some new colleagues and bidding a sad farewell to some valued members of our CSI community.
As you all know, Dr. Timothy Lynch joined CSI as Interim President the beginning of January. I worked with Dr. Lynch in his previous role as Provost at Queensborough Community College, and am excited to work with him for the betterment of our College of Staten Island community.
On Tuesday, Feb. 1, we will be welcoming Dr. Burnett Joiner as the Interim Dean of the School of Education, which will finally have a full-time Dean for the first time since the summer of 2019. Dr. Joiner was most recently Professor and Dean of Graduate Studies at Benedict College and was previously Senior VP for Academic Affairs at Benedict College, VP for Academic Affairs at Wiley College, Dean of the College of Education at Mississippi Valley State University, and President and CEO of Livingston College and Hood Theological Seminary. He received his PhD in Education and Psychology at University of South Carolina, an MA in Educational Administration at Bradley University, and a BS in Education from Alcorn State University.
The search for an Interim Dean in the School of Health Sciences failed, so I will continue to serve in that capacity for the present as we consider other options.
Sunday, Jan. 31 is Kerri Gerson’s last day working day as CSI Registrar. Kerri has served CSI impeccably in several roles, including scheduler, interim registrar, and registrar. She is leaving to work in her family’s business on Staten Island, so she will not be far away. It has been a pleasure working with Kerri and I hope you will join me in wishing her all the best in her new role. I am pleased to report that Juline Robinson has agreed to serve as interim registrar as we prepare for a national search to fill the position permanently.
Thursday, Jan. 27 was Natalie Fischetti’s last day as Chair of Nursing. She is entering Travia leave and will be spending a few months out of state enjoying some well-deserved rest. Natalie has been with CSI since 1992, starting as an adjunct and serving the Nursing Department in in many roles since then. I would like to thank Natalie for her many years of service to the Department of Nursing and CSI, and wish her the best as she embarks on a well-deserved rest out of state. Dr. Barbara Diccio-Bloom will serve as interim chair this semester as the department conducts an outside search for a new permanent chair.
The Middle States Self-Study steering group and working groups are finalizing the study for distribution to the review committee, who will be on campus the end of March. I would like to extend my thanks to Steering Committee co-chairs Chris Miller, Dante Tawfeeq, and Tara Mastrorilli. I would like to thank all of those participating in the self-study process for the many hours they have put into collecting data, analyzing, and writing this report.
I look forward to working with all of you this semester, and hopefully seeing more of you in person as we move back to campus.
By Michael Parrish
