MBC On the Web

President Fox Urges Faculty, Staff to 'Come Together'

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2009-08-26

Watch the video and read the full text here.
Francis Auditorium buzzed with start-of-the-year greetings and anticipation about the 2009–10 academic year on a warm August 26 morning, and President Pamela Fox used that energy to rally Mary Baldwin College faculty and staff to ‘Come Together’ to maintain a strong, vibrant, cohesive college as economic challenges mount. Building on the musical metaphors she has used to illustrate State of the College addresses since she arrived as president six years ago, Fox borrowed from England’s quintessential quartet The Beatles to inspire hard work, cooperation, and reorganization for the coming year.

In a presentation interspersed with audio clips, Fox offered gratitude for the creative solutions already in motion to cope with a shrinking budget and innovative programming, and she introduced the reorganization of the college into four Schools of Excellence. A novel concept for most at MBC, the schools structure will not involve physical separation of student, faculty, and students in different camps. It will, however, highlight the college’s unique strengths — such as a teacher education program that is one of the strongest in the state, a one-of-a-kind partnership with American Shakespeare Center in downtown Staunton, and many others. The schools’ working titles are: Arts, Humanities, and Renaissance Studies; Education, Health, and Human Services; Global, Business, and Political Studies; and Natural Sciences and Psychology.

graphic illustration of the four Schools of Excellence

“Schools will make visible our strengths and highlight our unique and distinctive programs” and will include civic engagement, regional partners, national and international partners, and alumnae/i connections,” Fox said.

“I ask us to ‘come together, right now’ to face this turning point,” she said in closing.

Read the full text of Dr. Fox’s State of the College address and watch video of her presentation online. Also look for her remarks and additional features in the September issue of The Cupola, to be delivered next week to all who receive The Mary Baldwin College Magazine.

Draft Model of School Structure (PDF)