| Marymount
Manhattan Inaugurates New President
By
Sybil Maimin
 It
has been a season of inaugurations of new college presidents in
New York City, and Judson R. Shaver joined the distinguished list
as he became the seventh president of Marymount Manhattan College
on October 18. In a ceremony steeped in tradition, robed academics,
dignitaries, and delegates from a spectrum of colleges and universities
with colorful hoods denoting degrees and departments, as well
as students and staff, marched in a procession to honor and welcome
the incoming president. Greetings were delivered by: Dennis Walcott,
deputy mayor of New York City representing Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
Bill Irwin, the performer, who revealed that he debuted with Judson
Shaver in a high school play; Carol Ann Mooney, vice president
of Notre Dame University, Professor Shaver’s proud alma mater;
Geraldine Ferraro, a Marymount Manhattan alum who served in the
House of Representatives and ran for vice president of the United
States; and Ben Pryor, student government president who said,
“We are your future and today, President Shaver, your future welcomes
you.”
 The
evolution of Marymount Manhattan from a very traditional two-year
girls’ college (a “finishing school,” said Ms. Ferraro) at its
founding in 1936 to the four year, coed, urban, independent, liberal
arts institution that it is today, serving a diverse population,
was a common theme touched upon by speakers. That Dr. Shaver is
the first male president of Marymout Manhattan and probably would
not have been chosen for the position just a few years ago, illustrates
the extent of these changes.
In his inaugural address, President Shaver affirmed his support
for the inclusion of character development and values teaching
in the college experience. Admitting that his has long been “a
minority opinion,” he advised, “We in academia cannot afford disinterest
in what our students do with their knowledge and skills.” Institutions
of higher learning are increasingly under scrutiny as the public
questions cost, whether or not students learn and how well prepared
graduates are to take part in society upon their graduation. President
Shaver cited a Carnegie report critical of higher education on
grounds that 1) pre-professional studies and narrowly defined
majors dominate; 2) professional and liberal arts education are
far apart; 3) humanities are no longer important; 4) attempts
to link humanities and sciences have failed; 5) fundraising dominates
leaders’ time; and 6) searching self-assessments and adherence
to mission are rarities. The new president reported that Marymount
Manhattan has been engaged in “searching self-assessment” leading
to a new strategic plan and a renewed and strengthened mission.
“Like our city, we will be diverse, exciting, and committed,”
he promised, and, “most of all, we will be distinguished by academic
quality.#
Education
Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001.
Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919.Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express
consent of the publisher. © 2002.
|
