By Caroline Ryan and Alec Matuszak
News Editor, Assistant News Editor
Two of the five deans of the schools and colleges on campus are interim, acting deans. One was appointed earlier this year and the other was appointed last week. Only one of the five deans has been in place for more than a year.
On Oct. 6, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Jeffrey Kane, sent a campus-wide email stating Dr. Albert Inserra, the former president of Dowling College, has been appointed dean of the college of education, information and technology. Inserra replaces Louisa Kramer-Vida, who was the acting dean of the college of education, information and technology.
Vida-Kramer is the chairperson of the department of special education as well as an assistant professor in the department. She was approached to take the position of acting dean in mid-June 2016, and began the position on Jul. 1. Kramer replaced Dr. Barbara Garii, the former dean of the college of education, information and technology, who became the vice president for academic affairs of St. Joseph’s College on Jul. 18.
As the Pioneer reported in its Oct. 5 issue, Jeffrey Belnap, the dean of LIU Global, has been appointed the acting dean of the college of liberal arts, succeeding chemistry Professor Nicholas Ramer, who was the acting dean of the college from June 2015 to August 2016. Ramer replaced former Dean Katherine Hill-Miller, who stepped down from the position in 2015 and returned to her position as a professor in the English department.
Art therapy professor, Christine Kerr, became the acting dean of the college of art, communications and design on Sept. 1, succeeding Noel Zahler, who left the University in August.
Stacey Gopack, who was the acting dean of the School of Health Professions last year, is the newly appointed permanent dean of that school.
Only Robert Valli, the dean of the College of Management, has been in his position since 2015.
Some students have expressed confusion and frustration about the coming and going of the deans. Senior economics major Marvin Johnson has had positive experiences with going to deans for help throughout his academic career. Johnson feels that with many of the deans stepping down and the administration constantly needing to find new replacements, many students may begin to feel lost. “Some students have a unique bond with certain deans and by them switching up and resigning, it just makes the students feel not wanted,” Johnson said. “It’s like a puppy with a new owner.”
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