Jill Woodilla's Sabbatical Blog

This blog records my life and (some) thoughts while on sabbatical during the spring and summer 2008 semesters. To fully appreciate my academic and personal journey, I suggest that you read (or skim) it from the beginning by selecting the oldest entries through the menu on the right hand side. Enjoy!

Half full or half empty?

Today I worked with Diana and Steve on the ways in which Gardner's Five Minds for the Future might influence -- change is too big a claim -- the role -- or character of a Dean. This was especially meaningful for me because I am struggling with understanding and acting the role, but I was very tired so most of what I contributed was gibberish, punctuated by insights so meaningful that my colleages rushed to write them down!

I also spent a few minutes with Steve reflecting on the unravelling of the WCOB that both of us have noticed. At least now I know that I am not alone in my observations, and we have agreed to continue our conversation. At the moment I don't have any goals beyond personal survival.

For adminsitrivia, I completed some A-dean - student emails, worked with a colleague on his syllabus, and developed my list of MBA competitor, peer, and aspirant schools for AACSB purposes. None of the tasks were difficult or challenging -- they were merely representative of another day in the life of an A-Dean.

And I drafted my report on Results of my Sabbatical Leave Project. Strangely, at least to me, the report questions have little to do with the application questiosns. But maybe that's part of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and to query the format would be tantamount to heresy.

My sabbatical is over: it ended as it began with a transition form one work-space to another, but with lingering aspects of the discarded space -- I continued AACSB projects while on sabbatical and I will continue my scholarship now. I had expected to open a bottle of chanpagne to celebrate "the end," but I have decided I don't need to. My identity is that of an adminstrator standing firmly (not balancing) on a research platform; now I need to set aside blogging and perfect my new role

Goodbye!

Return to collegiality

Today was the Fall Faculty Convocation. First continental breakfast outside the Edggerton Theatre, then Dr. Cernera's "State of the University" address -- accompanied by 80 slides! These will soon be posted to Public Folders (on the university intranet) so I will be able to enjoy them at my leisure. Next came lunch, which was a good time to conduct quick business with various members of the university beacuse everyone was there -- after all, who foregos a free lunch?

College meetings were held in the afternoon. Ralph began with an entertaining monolog, so the mood was relaxed and business items were quickly dealt with -- not that I think there was any "business" -- just passing on information. But since I-Dean Ralph favors short meetings, he was pleased with the outcome. Dr Forget, the Provost & Academic Vice President, came to welcome us -- again -- since he had already greeted us individually during breakfast and collectively before Dr. Cernera's address. I thought that Dr. Forget was visiting faculty in each college meeting, but he stayed throughout ours. He's obviously making sure that we all do what we should be doing.

Finally, yet another opportunity to mingle with WCOB colleagues -- a party at Mary's house to honor Steve. It was a very pleasnt affair.












Does it all sound too good to be true? If you remember that the blogger is an ironist, you may realise that this was a real state of affairs, but realities co-exist. There was no inspiration for doing our work of teaching, and push-back has come already on some of the work that awaits the faculty this year. I predict that the atmosphere will quickly turn into a political arena, and any consensus that can be achieved will be around traditional positions. Louise sent me a wonderful cartoon -- click here to enjoy it -- that expresses just one part of this. Fortunately my readers will be spared the gory details of the semester as it plays itself out because this is a sabbatical blog that is due to close tomorrow -- and probably it should have closed already.

At the end of the day I was happy to return to Lord's Point, and will try to put thoughts of A-Deaning aside for the weekend.

Assuming the role

Today I felt -- and acted -- like an administrator. I dressed in "real clothes" and was decisive whenever anyone asked for my opinion or a "ruling." But I also had a couple of miscommunication flubs that were good anti-hubris warnings. I didn't feel like a researcher at all -- but then I didn't have time to! There were moments when I felt a little like a robot -- picking up papers in one place and putting them down in another, or responding in a particular way when a particular button was pushed. I'll have to work on my "pleasure-moments"!

Quality time

There was not even a thought of research in my day today -- unless of course you count a long and heated discussion on the meaning of "quality" as it relates to intellectual contributions during this morning's A-sq meeting.

Afterwards I had an opportunity to discuss quality tactics over dinner with the Director of Quality at Evergreen Solar -- son David. He and Susan invited us to join them for dinner at the Capital Grill in Providence, RI to celebrate David's 40th birthday. We all had a good time.

It's going ...

I can feel it slipping away -- the freedom to think, or read, or write (or do something else) --as I wanted to do it. And I can feel all the other stuff -- the monkeys, the polite conversations, the endless tasks waiting my atttention -- jggling up and down, gathering all around me, ready to push inwards as soon as freedom dissipates. I don't feel nostalgic, just incredibly sad.

A sane Sunday

My Lord's Point office was deserted today while I engaged in more "normal" Sunday pursuits -- reading the Sunday New York Times (almost cover-to-cover), enjoying the company of our house guest, going for an almost perfect sail, and finally, watching the "exploding London bus" in Beijing.

Tomorrow I must tidy my office ...