An Interview with the Vice Chancellor
By Noah Crosse
- 30th November 2021
First of all, we'd like to thank you for accepting our request for this interview and also let us congratulate for your recent promotions once again!
"Of course, no problem. I am quite excited for this, the newsletter is a great outlet to inform students."
I must say there's an impressive amount of titles to your name, as far as I know: Doctor, Professor, Lecturer at ULSA, Head of Student Affairs, Vice Chancellor. How challenging is it actually to fill all these positions at once?
"Well most of those titles are smashed into one, the hardest must be the Student Affairs position, but also the most rewarding one. As a sociologist the whole position isn't as hard as you may think, it is just simply my passion hence why I also teach it among working as one. As we continue to expand our university, most of the departments within Student Affairs also expand and require more care then what I can provide on a wide spectrum. This means we'll get some new exciting faces coming and being lead of those divisions, easing off the weight on my shoulders."
That's exciting news for us, you've mentioned your duties as a lecturer. As we all know the first semester is slowly coming to an end. How would you rate these last couple of months, in regards to the subject you're currently lecturing to our students?
"All in all I would say it has been good. My perspective as a teacher isn't anything special per say, I have seen the interest of students fluctuate as we come closer to the end of the semester, but it's a part of the ride."
I'm sure you've already had the opportunity to work together with the Student Union in the last couple of weeks, there's a few students planning to apply for this position as we speak. What would you advise or more specifically what's your opinion, which personal traits are most beneficial to have in order to keep the teamwork consistent and effective?
"Well, I don't exactly work that close to the Student Union and more just over see it from afar. From a professional stand point, people who are able to self-reflect and know how to criticise themselves. Teamwork is only beneficial when those in the team feel the fulfilment of working together by achieving goals pertaining to the objective. Diversity plays a large role, we are a huge university with people from all over this region and even the world! The more diversity within the representatives, the better the Union works."
I've read through the freshly announced Student Affairs guidebook, in a couple of words could you please summarise a pair of sentences you find the most important from the whole program?
"Personally I feel our Health Services program is the most important and is currently the one I am working on establishing as quick as possible. The mental health of our students is important and affects every part of the campus experience from campus life to education. Just the last week we've had a fifty percent increase in drug related hospital admission and those who suffer from this, have no place to go that they trust to ease off the stress of today's society. With this program I hope to increase the trust and provide a safe and professional outlet for students to come and speak their mind and gain advice. Hopefully helping them stray away from narcotics that extract a heavy toll when used."
Allow me one last question, do you plan on involving students in the process as a part of your team or do you wish to only consult with professionals in this manner?
"Both, as much as I would like to gain the opinion of students. The student union serves that role and is the best chance at being apart of effective Student affairs on campus."