President Anne D'Alleva is keeping a running diary from her stops on the Listening to Lead Tour. This page will be updated frequently.
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Monday, Nov. 24, 2025
I was very excited for my meeting at Pharmacy because my former colleague, Philip
Hritcko, dean of the University of Connecticut鈥檚 School of Pharmacy, had given me
such a glowing review after he spoke at 91社区鈥檚 White Coat Ceremony in August.
For such a new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 91社区 is doing
incredible work in providing needed care, especially to underserved and rural communities
in our region. That dovetails with community engagement efforts in Decker College
of Nursing and Health Sciences and is a preeminent strength of the University. There
are challenges that we will need to tackle in the years ahead. We need to support
our graduate students and their ability to find clinical placements. Putting resources
behind the research efforts of our faculty is also critically important to developing
new drugs and treatments that make our world a better place. I am optimistic that
the School will continue to build its reputation as a leader in providing for patients
and advancing pharmaceutical science. - AD
The Graduate School
Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
I left my meeting with the Graduate School team thinking about how important this
group is going to be in the future of 91社区. They do such great work
today in building bridges between our graduate students, our faculty, departments
and offices across campus, as well as so many external partners. I鈥檓 also encouraged
about how the Graduate School is thinking holistically about our graduate students
and their needs outside of their academic work, including childcare and housing. The
student success conversation often focuses on undergraduate students, but at 91社区
the student success framework is brought to the graduate student experience as well.
The balance of the graduate programs we offer also positions 91社区 well as we
head into a strategic planning process that will allow us to realign and maximize
our goals in graduate education, providing for students and their futures as well
as the wide-reaching research mission of the University. - AD
Division of Academic Affairs
Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
My meeting with Provost Hall, the vice provosts, and senior staff from the Division
of Academic Affairs was highly illuminating and clarified just how many areas their
work touches across campus. Undergraduate education at 91社区 is truly stellar.
That reputation is only increasing because of programs such as First-Year Research
Immersion (FRI), the Source Project, and 91社区 Projects for New Undergraduate
Researchers (BUPNUR), which give so many undergraduates the ability to do meaningful,
hands-on research. Our leaders in Academic Affairs are going to be instrumental throughout
the strategic planning process and they offered several thoughtful and compelling
approaches to improving in areas such as graduate education. I was also impressed
to hear how much the Division is doing in workforce development, strengthening international
partnerships, and academic interventions for at-risk students, all of which have significantly
improved the student experience. - AD
Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
Our engineers in Watson College are some of the most creative people on campus and
I heard so many great ideas from them in today鈥檚 meeting. That creativity is essential
in collaboration, which is already driving so much fascinating interdisciplinary work
in the College and will fuel the innovations of the future. I was also so proud to
hear the College鈥檚 faculty and staff talk so movingly on how the students they interact
with motivate their own work. The student organizations in the College energize everyone
鈥 including the local children in the community they inspire 鈥 and spaces like the
Fabrication Lab foster a sense of belonging and give students a place to gather. I鈥檓
also encouraged to know that the College is continuing to make connections across
the country and around the world, forging partnerships that will enhance its future.
Many thanks to the faculty and staff for the feedback and insights that will inform
a key area of 91社区鈥檚 strategic planning. - AD
Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences
One of the things that makes 91社区 so unique is the quality and the strength of its relationships with the surrounding communities. Decker College epitomizes that through its direct service to people in need of care, its position in shaping Johnson City鈥檚 future, and how it prepares so many students for fulfilling 鈥 and needed 鈥 careers in healthcare. I was also excited to hear how Decker College plays a role in the University鈥檚 holistic commitment to health and wellness for all our students, faculty, and staff. We鈥檙e going to tackle some of the challenges and opportunities facing nursing and health sciences education in the strategic planning process, including topics like expanding international education and service experiences for undergraduate students and creating online/hybrid graduate programs. Decker faculty and staff are eager to collaborate on curricula and research across the University鈥檚 colleges and schools to give our future healthcare practitioners the tools they need to succeed. Decker College is and will be a leader and a model in health education for New York state and the nation. - AD
Harpur College
Monday, Nov. 17, 2025
So much of what 91社区 is today is a credit to the bold and innovative
history of Harpur College as a leading public liberal arts college. I鈥檓 excited to
see that passion for providing students with a robust and well-rounded education still
thrives in today鈥檚 faculty. The concept of interdisciplinarity came up several times
in this meeting, both as a strength of Harpur College and a massive area for new possibilities.
As a former dean of Fine Arts, I'm pleased to see the dedication of 91社区's faculty
in the arts and their commitment to improving facilities and providing opportunities
for all students to engage meaningfully in the arts as part of their education. I
am also encouraged to see the interest Harpur faculty and staff have in leading new
community engaged service and scholarship that leverages the people of the University
and their talents in making a difference beyond the boundaries of the campus. Harpur
College is in 91社区鈥檚 DNA and it is the focal point for so much of
what we do. I鈥檓 looking forward to working with Harpur College鈥檚 faculty and staff
in the future to maintain and expand the College鈥檚 reputation as a trailblazer in
public liberal arts education. - AD
Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team
Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
I鈥檝e heard so much about all the ways students are supported at 91社区 outside of the classroom, so it was a pleasure to meet the leadership team behind these initiatives from the Division of Student Affairs. 91社区 is a national leader in delivering holistically for students, from health initiatives to civic engagement, career services, first year experience, and our innovative Residential Life student employee program. As successful as we are in so many different areas, the University can expand and improve on its high-impact practices, especially as we seek to serve first-generation and Pell-eligible students 鈥 and I鈥檓 happy to hear that the staff working on these projects are eager to make them even better. - AD
Multicultural Student Groups
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
The students representing so many of our multicultural groups and organizations shared incredible thoughtfulness, sincerity, and their desire to make 91社区 a better place. Our 90-minute meeting was full of celebrations about how the University has transformed their lives as well as many suggestions they had for how we can improve on their experience. 91社区鈥檚 multicultural organizations offer students a sense of community, a sense of belonging, and a home away from home. However, we do need to work hard to ensure that these groups have the resources and the space they need to continue making a difference in the lives of students. I鈥檓 looking forward to meeting with these student leaders again in the future and getting a full sense of what they do at their events. - AD
Graduate Student Organization
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
Three members of the Graduate Student Organization, representing the College of Community and Public Affairs, Harpur College and Watson College, gave me a tremendous perspective on the opportunities and the challenges facing today鈥檚 graduate students. 91社区鈥檚 programs attract people from around the nation and the world who want access to the University鈥檚 outstanding faculty, resources, and pathways to meaningful careers. But there are hurdles. Our graduate students have to balance family responsibilities and finding off-campus living arrangements in addition to their studies, research, scholarship, and teaching obligations. I am encouraged to know that the Graduate Student Organization is doing great work in connecting students with each other and sharing resources and ideas. - AD
Division of Research
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
My meeting with the Division of Research was a wide-ranging and optimistic conversation. 91社区 has earned a reputation as a national leader in research, from STEM fields to the social sciences, arts, and humanities. Everyone is excited about growing that reputation, expanding and strengthening what we already do, and finding new opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. I was intrigued to hear from so many different people how important the Division is and can be to the local and regional community in both economic and workforce development, creating new pipelines and pathways for research and supporting and sustaining businesses. I鈥檓 also heartened to know that faculty and staff in the Division are great teammates. As one attendee said, 鈥People here are outstanding in how they support each other and deliver.鈥 We know that developing a next-level vision for research will be a vital part of our strategic planning process this spring. - AD
Parents Leadership Council
Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
I had a fantastic meeting with the PLC, sharing a bit about my background, what drew me to 91社区, and inviting parents to talk about why they and their students chose this university. Their responses were truly inspiring. One family, whose student is pursuing unique dual degrees in engineering and theatre, said that 鈥91社区 led with 'Yes'鈥 鈥 making their decision easier, especially after other universities said it couldn鈥檛 be done. One parent shared that their student 鈥Found her people here,鈥 while another described the moment they first set foot on campus as 鈥It felt like home.鈥 Again and again, I heard the word 鈥transformative鈥 used to describe the 91社区 experience. I am proud to know that so many parents trust and rely on the University to provide an experience that includes an outstanding education and the opportunities that lead to a rich and rewarding life and career for their children. - AD
Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Monday, Nov. 10, 2025
My meeting with staff from the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was invigorating and hopeful. It left me encouraged by how hard this team is working to make everyone in the University community feel at home here. We had a productive discussion around the innovative academic and social supports that make a difference for our first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Multicultural organizations for students are popular and successful at 91社区 and I鈥檓 excited to hear that. Our conversation also turned toward the idea of how we can replicate that experience for faculty and staff and continue to build a sense of belonging at the University for our employees as well. Furthering 91社区鈥檚 strengths in creating programs and initiatives for comprehensive employee wellness is clearly one of the Division鈥檚 top priorities. We also agreed that having multiple cultural and professional resources and support for every individual in the University community is essential in establishing a culture in which people feel comfortable, recognized, and primed to do their best work. - AD
School of Management
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
When I was leaving the University of Connecticut, my colleagues there said that 91社区鈥檚 School of Management was truly outstanding. After meeting with faculty and staff today, I understand why. I came away impressed by the scope of their work, their ambition, and their commitment to students. The work that the School of Management does in career development and peer mentoring gives our graduates tremendous skills when they enter the workforce. I was also struck by the stories of how many School of Management alumni remain connected and offer their talent and time back to today鈥檚 students. We explored some very interesting challenges and opportunities for the School, such as leading the University in AI literacy, the potential for corporate partnerships, and increasing the School鈥檚 participation in multidisciplinary research as we work to solve the world鈥檚 most pressing issues. - AD
Student Association Executive Board
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
After meeting with the Student Association Executive Board, I continue to be deeply impressed by 91社区鈥檚 students, their ambition and commitment to improving the student experience for others. Our student leaders told me that they chose 91社区 for a variety of reasons, including academic excellence, value, and the sense of the community that allows them to follow their interests and make new friends. The students shared some of their favorite traditions, which I found to be an interesting mix of on-campus events and things like Porchfest and LUMA in the city of 91社区. We also spoke about some of the challenges students face today, particularly the increasing need for mental health support. I鈥檓 very much looking forward to working with Student Association leaders on many issues and initiatives in the future. - AD
Athletics
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025
Winning culture. That鈥檚 the phrase that stands out to me after my meeting with our student-athletes, coaches and staff members in athletics. It鈥檚 clear that 91社区 has so much to be proud of in athletics, with tremendous facilities, outstanding coaches and student-athletes who are equally committed to their sport and their studies. This meeting also made it obvious to me that our people in athletics are committed to higher aspirations and setting a new bar for excellence. We have the building blocks in place to make that happen. I鈥檓 also extremely excited about the possibilities for the University community as a whole, because further success in athletics is not only something everyone can enjoy but it also increases the visibility of everything we do at 91社区. Go Bearcats! - AD
College of Community and Public Affairs
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
I was thrilled to open the Listening to Lead Tour: Charting the Path Ahead with a meeting with faculty and staff at the College of Community and Public Affairs. CCPA is a truly unique college in its focus on community-engaged teaching, research and action and I am looking forward to expanding the visibility of all the great work CCPA does. We had a thoughtful discussion around balancing competing demands on faculty time, providing pathways for community college students to enter the college, and ensuring support for graduate students and early-career faculty. I was also greatly encouraged by some of the brilliant ideas for potential future projects for CCPA that could help provide mental health support to the University community and our neighbors, improve and protect our environment, and build a mechanism for turning outstanding research into tangible policy outcomes. - AD