Spring Break
Dean of CASA resigns
"I've had 15 wonderful years at San Jose State University."
Sara Spivey
Daily Staff Writer
- Page 1 of 1
|
Ego has accepted a position at the University of Connecticut at the Stamford regional campus as the associate vice provost beginning Jan. 15, 2005, he said.
"The opportunity came before me at the University of Connecticut to make a contribution to higher education at a different level," Ego said.
Ego said he came to SJSU in 1989 as the associate dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, and has served as the dean since 1993.
Before coming to SJSU, Ego said that he served for eight years as the department chair for recreation and leisure studies at Cal State Northridge.
He said he also received a bachelor's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills, a master's degree from Cal State Los Angeles and his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.
Deciding to leave SJSU was a difficult decision to make, he said.
"I've had 15 wonderful years at San Jose State University," Ego said. "We've overcome an earthquake, budgetary uncertainties and trying to keep current with the needs of the region."
Ego said his biggest challenge at SJSU has been trying to maintain a positive morale through budgetary difficulties.
"Students are the ones who have been affected," he said.
As the dean, Ego oversees approximately 4,000 students, 300 faculty and 60 staff in the 10 academic departments within the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, he said.
Ego said his main responsibility as dean is distributing budget resources from the provost's office throughout the college in a fair and equitable way.
He also works with faculty and staff to create innovative and creative curriculum to meet the needs of the ongoing changes in the Silicon Valley, he said.
"I commend the faculty and staff for their ability to respond to changes that occur," Ego said.
Inger Sagatun-Edwards, chair of the justice studies department, said she has had close contact with Ego in the 12 years she has been on the College Executive Council, she said.
She said the council is composed of all of the department chairs in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts and meets monthly to discuss department functioning.
She said Ego has always been very collegial and eager to work with all of the department chairs.
"We'll be very sorry to see him leave," she said.
Colin Johnson, chair of the hospitality management department, said he first came into contact with Ego during his recruitment to SJSU approximately one year ago.
"He's a very kind man," Johnson said. "He's calm and appropriate and always has the students' best interests at heart."
Ego meets with the Student Affairs Committee, composed of one student from each department in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, once per month.
The committee is the student voice within the college, said Susie Rivera, chair of the Student Affairs Committee.
"We gather thoughts on student concerns, problems, suggestions and observations and (bring) them to the dean," Rivera said.
Rivera, a graduate student in justice studies, said although Ego is very busy, he attends the meeting every month.
"Since he can't meet with every single student, we try to go out and survey other students," she said. "He really takes (their concerns) into consideration when he makes hard decisions."
She said although SJSU has serious budget problems, Ego is always concerned about the college being able to offer enough classes for students to graduate on time.
"He does the best he can to have as many classes as possible," she said.
Tiffany Montgomery, the vice chair of the Student Affairs Committee, said Ego personally invited her to be on the committee after she voiced some concerns about the nursing department at the Leadership Today conference in 2003.
"I can't describe how much he cares about the students," she said. "He always fights for us."
Montgomery said she is sad for SJSU students who will never have the opportunity to know him as a dean.
The move to the University of Connecticut's Stamford regional campus will begin a new chapter in his life, Ego said.
He said the University of Connecticut is recognized as one of the top public universities in the United States.
"I'm joining a faculty and staff with a rich history and tradition," he said.
The Stamford regional campus moved to the downtown area of Stamford six years ago, and has approximately 2,000 students who are all commuters, Ego said.
He said the campus is located about one hour north of New York City and is surrounded by 20 Fortune 500 companies, such as Xerox and Pitney Bowes.
As associate vice provost, he will be developing partnerships between the university and the community, he said.
"I am looking forward to the challenge
of leading the Stamford regional
campus to the next level of success,"
he said.
Be the first to comment on this story