2008 Woodie Awards
Too much change?
Issue date: 4/30/03 Section: Editorials
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As the Class of 2003 prepares to leave Georgetown behind, they leave behind a Georgetown that has changed a great deal since their arrival in the fall of 1999. New, or at least drastically altered, buildings have sprung up across campus. Old traditions, such as Block Party, have fallen by the wayside, and new ones, such as Georgetown Day, have arisen. The institution that was Champions’ Bar has closed. In subtle ways, the city of Washington has changed, the nation has changed, and presumably, the students themselves have learned and grown during their time on the Hilltop. In more obvious ways, the landscape of the Georgetown administration has changed completely.
In their four years here, this year’s seniors have witnessed turnover in almost every major administrative position. The biggest change was of the top University administrator, with current President Jack DeGioiareplacing the Rev. Leo O’Donovan, S.J., in 2001. It is understandable that DeGioia would want to have a cadre of senior administrators with whom he is comfortable working. However, too much change can be as bad for the institution as stagnation. The University, now that DeGioia has had two years to settle in, needs to focus not on bringing in fresh people, but on creating a sense of community and pride in the administrators it has.
Turnover has been especially visible in the Office of Student Affairs from the top down. Dr. Juan Gonzalez, Vice President for Student Affairs, has been at Georgetown for less than three years, and might leave this summer. His Associate Vice President, Dr. Todd Olson, has been at Georgetown for less than a year, filling a position that Gonzalez had earlier opted to abandon for financial reasons. Frank Robinson, hired as director of Residence Life little more than a year ago, has already moved on.
Along with Gonzalez and DeGioia, the two other most prominent administrators are likewise new. James O’Donnell replaced Dorothy Brown as Provost in June. In November of 2001, Dr. Spiros Dimolitsas was named Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.
And the change does not stop there. In addition to the administrators already mentioned, Georgetown has hired a new Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer (Christopher Joyce), a new librarian (Artemis Kirk) and a new head (with the new title of Vice President of of Campus Ministry (the Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J.) — to take just a few prominent examples.
Certainly, some of this change is inevitable. But in an environment where most of the population is intrinsically transitory, it is important that the administration serve as a source of continuity. Moreover, this University needs to address some serious long-term challenges and opportunities. Continually changing administrators subverts the planning and implementation process.
For the most part, Georgetown’s administrators are exceptionally dedicated and talented individuals. Now the school just has to keep them here.
In their four years here, this year’s seniors have witnessed turnover in almost every major administrative position. The biggest change was of the top University administrator, with current President Jack DeGioiareplacing the Rev. Leo O’Donovan, S.J., in 2001. It is understandable that DeGioia would want to have a cadre of senior administrators with whom he is comfortable working. However, too much change can be as bad for the institution as stagnation. The University, now that DeGioia has had two years to settle in, needs to focus not on bringing in fresh people, but on creating a sense of community and pride in the administrators it has.
Turnover has been especially visible in the Office of Student Affairs from the top down. Dr. Juan Gonzalez, Vice President for Student Affairs, has been at Georgetown for less than three years, and might leave this summer. His Associate Vice President, Dr. Todd Olson, has been at Georgetown for less than a year, filling a position that Gonzalez had earlier opted to abandon for financial reasons. Frank Robinson, hired as director of Residence Life little more than a year ago, has already moved on.
Along with Gonzalez and DeGioia, the two other most prominent administrators are likewise new. James O’Donnell replaced Dorothy Brown as Provost in June. In November of 2001, Dr. Spiros Dimolitsas was named Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.
And the change does not stop there. In addition to the administrators already mentioned, Georgetown has hired a new Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer (Christopher Joyce), a new librarian (Artemis Kirk) and a new head (with the new title of Vice President of of Campus Ministry (the Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J.) — to take just a few prominent examples.
Certainly, some of this change is inevitable. But in an environment where most of the population is intrinsically transitory, it is important that the administration serve as a source of continuity. Moreover, this University needs to address some serious long-term challenges and opportunities. Continually changing administrators subverts the planning and implementation process.
For the most part, Georgetown’s administrators are exceptionally dedicated and talented individuals. Now the school just has to keep them here.