A New 2012 Message from Jim Coleman
It has been almost six months since I started a new chapter in my life and academic career as Dean of VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences (the College). I came to VCU this year after spending the last four years as the Vice Provost for Research at Rice University.
You could say that I have just completed my first semester as a freshman administrator at VCU. In fact, at a recent gathering of emeritus faculty from the College, I was asked whether my experiences so far as a “freshman” have led me to consider changing my major. The question made me laugh out loud! But it also caused me to reflect on my first experiences at VCU. There is no question that this job is really challenging! Like many freshman, I have had moments when I asked myself, “What was I thinking?”
Yet, I remain truly excited by the opportunities for the College and for VCU. I honestly believe that if it were possible to buy stock in universities, VCU would be the “hot pick” by all of the informed forecasters. There is absolutely no question in my mind that the best days for the College and for VCU lay ahead. I feel certain that in nearly any metric of success for a university, VCU will see significant positive growth of the next few years. And, if you could buy stock in VCU today, you would be a very wealthy person in a few years. So, I encourage everyone to get invested and stay invested!
Why am I so optimistic? There are many, many reasons that all center around four key areas: our role in VCU’s strategic plan, our students, our faculty, and our alumni and friends. You can read my thoughts in more detail through the hyperlinks, and I hope that you will take the time to explore and comment on our exciting plans and prospective ideas for the year to come. You will see that I am definitely keeping my major!
Let me also take this occasion to say that the College needs you. We need to know your thoughts and ideas. We need your expertise, your enthusiasm and your support. We need you to help us realize the vision of Quest for Distinction. Please contact me personally at jscoleman@vcu.edu or get in touch with any member of my staff if you would like to help. And, don’t be surprised if you hear from me! Happy New Year! May you find this to be a deeply meaningful, productive and joyful year. I will do my best to enhance your year by facilitating an ever-increasing sense of your pride in VCU and the College.
I am excited by the energy and enthusiasm of our alumni to develop more mechanisms for our students to engage with successful role models. You can help, too, and I hope you will contact me personally to explore ways in which you can make a world of difference in preparing our students for tomorrow.
Go Rams!!!
James S. Coleman, Ph.D.
Dean of the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences
Jim Coleman's Bio
Jim Coleman's CV
