Writing in Leadership and the New Science publication Margaret Wheatly said, “In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships.  The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles and positions.”  She captures quite well the fact that the position of Dean of Adult Degree and Graduate Programs for Prescott College has to develop a high degree of collegiality and professional relationships between staff.     

I believe one important goal of a college is to prepare people to become active and productive members of their communities.  Prescott College is an important part of our community.  We need to help our students understand and develop their own role as community members as they progress, learn and develop. 

I place significant emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills. Thus I am responsible for setting high academic standards and expectations for staff and students as well as for myself. As I work to meet my own professional goals and enhance the learning experience for staff, my objective is to organize and prepare a department to deliver superior planning and instructional strategies for our students.

To encourage staff and students to be constant observers, evaluators and above all learners, I too must embrace these concepts as valuable. To this end, I consider it part of my obligation to staff to be constantly informed about events both inside and outside of the college. As part of my goals as an administrator and leader, I must strive to remain abreast of college and university developments and to be willing to find creative ways in which to engage staff and students for the challenges of the 21^st Century.

The bottom line then for my educational philosophy is to be a consensus builder among staff demonstrating a high degree of commitment to academic standards for Prescott College’s individual programs of study.