Dear Colleagues,
It is with a mixture of excitement and sadness that I write to let you know that I will be retiring effective Dec. 21, 2018.
I have worked at Hudson Valley for 11 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. When I started I was a little concerned about how well I would fit into the Hudson Valley community. I had spent 27 years at the University at Albany in the School of Education working with doctoral students and a faculty heavily focused on research. I didn’t know a great deal about community colleges, but I was very aware of the sterling reputation of Hudson Valley both regionally and statewide. I had visited the campus a few times and was very impressed (and a little envious) of the college’s use of technology in the classroom and its distance learning offerings. I needn’t have been concerned about fitting in. You all welcomed me with open arms and were very supportive of my efforts to bring myself up to speed about the institution and it soon became very evident to me how special a place Hudson Valley Community College is.
It did not take me very long to see how much the faculty and staff cared about the college’s students and how deeply committed they were to the institution and higher education in general. Students I talked to spoke glowingly of how their teachers were willing to do whatever they could to help them succeed and gave unstintingly of their time both in and out of the classroom. I could also see the extensive array and high quality of the support services we offered to our students. It soon became very clear that the college’s unspoken philosophy was “if you’re willing to put in the effort, we’re here to provide you with all the support and assistance you need to succeed” and that everyone at the college did all they could to make that philosophy a reality. In my opinion, you really see the tremendous impact of education on people’s lives when you work at a community college, especially when that college is Hudson Valley.
The impact Hudson Valley has on the Capital District cannot be overstated. When I am out in the community and people see my ASK ME button or my lapel pin the typical response is “Oh, I went to Hudson Valley. It’s a great school!” or “My son/daughter/niece/nephew/grandson/granddaughter went/is going to Hudson Valley.” They will often ask if a favorite professor is still teaching or comment on what a great college it is. I am extremely proud to have been a part, if only a small one, of the important work of this great institution and to have worked with all of you.
In the weeks ahead, I plan to work with Dr. Ramsammy to plan for leadership transition within the areas of technology and institutional assessment and planning. The next few years will be an exciting time for Hudson Valley Community College. We are a college with a proud history, a committed faculty and staff, and the potential and drive to become even better. I look forward with great anticipation and solid certainty to an even more successful and respected Hudson Valley in the future.
My thanks for all your support, assistance, and friendship over the past 11 years. I will miss you all, but regardless of what the future brings, I will always be proud to call myself a Viking!
Sincerely,
Michael Green
Published: Fri, 19 Oct 2018 12:09:49 +0000 by m.green