A great deal of your research involves creating translations for literature and plays from Spanish to English. Where do you find your inspiration, and why is translation valuable? My second professional love, after teaching, is translating. When I read a book or see a play in Spanish that really speaks to me, I think about how I could make that experience available to a broader audience. I feel good about sharing that joy with the world. But I must admit that my motivation isn’t purely altruistic. Translating literature that I love means I get to spend all my time immersed in the world of that story, savoring every word and nuance and sound. What has been most invigorating/gratifying for you as interim provost with identifying and implementing new academic offerings at Lycoming? I have been immensely impressed by the faculty’s engagement in this project. It is a lot of work to create a high-quality new academic program, and we agreed from the start that, if we weren’t confident that we could create a truly outstanding curriculum in any particular field, we wouldn’t move forward with it. The faculty on each of the new academic program working groups have thought long and hard about what students would need to be successful in that field and what we could offer that would make the program distinctive. I’m confident that that is exactly what we’ve done. Snowden Library is undergoing some first-floor renovations this summer to accommodate a Learning Commons. Briefly explain the significance of this new space and how you anticipate it will help facilitate student success. The library renovations will bring our Writing Center, Math Center, and subject tutoring down to the first floor. Utilizing these academic supports is one of the best predictors for student success, and we find that students who utilize them regularly not only succeed at the College, they thrive. Creating the Learning Commons on the first floor of the library allows us to shine a spotlight on these services so that every student takes full advantage of everything these programs have to offer. What do you enjoy/appreciate most about Lycoming College? The commitment to student success is palpable in every area of campus. With my experience as first a faculty member and now an administrator, I can say with absolute confidence that this commitment permeates every division of the College, from the faculty to the staff and administration. This shared commitment to student success is one of the reasons Lycoming is ranked No. 7 in social mobility among national liberal arts colleges. I am proud to be part of an institution that chooses to place student success front and center in everything we do. The commitment to student success is palpable in every area of campus. 19 www.lycoming.edu
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