Advance, Cornell ILR School's publication for alumni and friends.
Issue link: https://advance.epubxp.com/i/524292
3 What have you been learning during your frst months as dean? I thought I knew a lot about ILR before I took over as dean, but I've been learning so much more, especially relating to what the students are doing. I knew about our world-class debate team, but I didn't know much about other groups, like the mock trial team. It is a great joy to meet and talk with our students. They are remarkable. I've also gained a much greater appreciation for the incredibly dedicated and talented staff and faculty at ILR, and everything they contribute day in and day out. How would you describe the state of the ILR School today? ILR is in a really good place due to the hard work of staff, faculty, students, alumni and friends. The work of our former deans has positioned us to make some great advances for the school in the years ahead. The university is facing some budget challenges and ILR, like all the schools, colleges and units, must share in helping to solve these issues. But, we're hopeful that this is a short-term concern, and I don't want it to get in the way of moving forward and exploring new opportunities. What do you see as priorities and opportunities for the school? Maintaining and enhancing the fnancial stability of the school is critical. Everything we do should be of the highest quality. If it's not, we probably shouldn't be doing it. ILR is fantastic at providing an exceptional student experience, but I'd like to see us doing even more as it relates to the well-being of our students. I'd also like to develop more resources for conducting innovative research and a stronger platform for celebrating our research excellence. We need to keep helping those outside the school — legislators, prospective students and parents, employers — understand what ILR is all about today and how we are advancing the world of work. Talk about the role of alumni and friends as we move forward. As dean, I'm excited to have more opportunities to meet with and get to know our alumni and friends. They are so devoted to the school and so willing to share their time, resources and advice with us and with our students. I'd like to get alumni engaging more fully with us sooner after they graduate. It's good for students to meet with our alums in senior positions who are at the top of their felds, but also to connect with someone fve years out, where they could see themselves in the early years of their careers. In fve years, what do you hope to be saying about the state of the ILR School? ILR is such a great place, and I hope we are doing many of the things we are doing now, and even better. We need to continue replenishing the faculty, since we'll be facing many retirements in the next fve to 10 years. I hope that ILR will be held up as a model for student, staff and faculty engagement, health and well-being. I'd also like to see us doing even more to tackle some of the "big" questions — like inequality — from the multiple disciplinary perspectives of the school. If you could be working in a profession other than academia, what would that be? My high school's "class prophecy" predicted I'd play third base for the Yankees, and that I'd marry my high school sweetheart. One out of two isn't bad.