Baseball opens up MASCAC schedule with sweep
Bare: A pop opera pg 10
pg 18
T he G atepost T he Inde pendent Weekly Student Ne wspa per of Framingham State College Since 1932
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Students enjoy early April weather on the FSC campus.
Two new VP candidates visit FSC Worcester State Interim Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Lori Dawson
By Matthew Bushery Editorial Staff Dr. Lori J. Dawson, the interim associate vice president of academic affairs for Worcester State College, visited FSC to make her case as a candidate for the next academic vice president at a forum open to administrators, faculty and students on Wednesday. At the end of the semester, Dr. Robert Martin, the current academic vice president, will be retiring. Before taking questions, Dawson shared some insights about her background, and how her experiences have prepared her for a job such as academic vice president. “I am a first-generation college student, and I think that’s important for [everyone] to know because it informs my whole perspective on higher ed.,” Dawson said. “I know that there is no great equalizer
in the United States, but I think that education is the closest thing we have to one. I don’t think that I would ever underestimate the transformative ability of education.” She added she worked her way through undergraduate and graduate school, despite her peers’ suggestions that she shouldn’t attend graduate school. “It took me a little bit longer than usual to finish up my degree,” Dawson said, “and I think that experience has enriched my life.” Dawson received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and women’s studies from Suffolk University in 1986. In 1988, she completed her master’s degree in socialpersonality psychology at SUNY Albany. Dawson decided to return to the school to get her Ph.D. in social-personality psychology in 1995. -Continued on page 7
Framingham State Interim Dean of Academic Affairs Ellen Zimmerman
By Madison Dennis Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ellen Zimmerman, interim dean of academic affairs, met with the campus community on Tuesday as a candidate for the vice president of academic affairs position. At the meeting, Zimmerman answered questions regarding issues facing the academic affairs department and presented her goals for next year should she get the position. Zimmerman, who has worked as a faculty member at FSC for the past 20 years, hopes to fill the vice president position when current Vice President Dr. Robert Martin retires at the end of the semester. Zimmerman said she had been considering a permanent administrative position for a year or so before she was promoted to interim dean of academic affairs. She said she loves teaching, and hopes to continue
to teach if she is offered the position, but would like to have more administrative responsibilities in order to gain a “broader view of the institution.” Zimmerman described this role as a “wonderful opportunity to expand my understanding of the institution and see it on a more macro-level.” As vice president of academic affairs, Zimmerman would be responsible for overseeing faculty and collaborating with them to develop curricula and other academic initiatives. She said her experience teaching at FSC provides her with valuable insights that will assist her in this role. “Obviously, someone coming from outside would bring a very fresh perspective that was grounded in his or her own previous institution or current institution. Certainly, it is an advantage to an extent,” she said, “but I also think coming from the
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