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about me
Name Katherine Kirby Neubert Birthday 09.13.87 Email katherineneubert@hotmail.com -- writer, jolter, aspiring photojournalist.
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alexis design the daily collegian the daily jolt the new york times wordswift |
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The Stockbridge School will not only be welcoming a new academic year this September, but after a two year national search, they have found alumni William L. Mitchell to be its new director. Mitchell earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in landscape architecture from the University, and is being named the Fred P. Jeffrey Professor, which is supported by an endowment by Alpha Tau Gamma (this endowment was named for the school’s director from 1954 to 1971 and ensures that Stockbridge School will always have a director). Since his time at UMass ended in 1975 when he graduated from the Stockbridge School of Architecture with a master’s degree in landscape architecture and site planning in 1975, he has been working as an associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Maine. Mitchell first learned about the position at Stockbridge when he was attended a meeting at MSU in the spring of ’07 where Professor Davidsohn mentioned that there was going to be a national search for a new director. “I was sitting in Dean Denison’s office just before I left for my new job at UMaine when he asked me what my long range goals were,” commented Mitchell. “Without thinking and in jest, I said “I want your job.” Well, it never entered my mind that I would return someday to my Alma Mater as the Assistant Dean/Director of the Stockbridge School.” Associate Dean of NRE Martha Baker has been the interim director for the past two years and assisted in the candidate selection process. “Bill brings enthusiasm and experience to the Stockbridge School,” Baker said. “As a graduate of the Landscape Architecture at UMass Amherst, he is returning to his alma mater, and I know he is excited about his new position and is looking forward to working with students, faculty, alumni and industry members.” Not only is he looking forward to the new school year and his new job, but he will also be introducing and teaching a new course called First Year Seminar, for all incoming Stockbridge freshmen. “This will be a great way for him to interact with new students,” added Baker. Steven D. Goodwin, dean of the College of Natural Resources and the Environment, who was given permission to hire Mitchell by our Chancellor, says Mitchell is an excellent choice to lead the Stockbridge School. “Over the past few years, with the support of Stockbridge School alumni, the college has been able to build an endowment to support the director as part of a campaign we called ‘Stockbridge Forever.’ That endowment allowed us to conduct a national search for a new director this past year, and we are very excited about the selection of Bill Mitchell. Bill has years of experience as the director of the Landscape Horticulture Program at the University of Maine. He has a real feel for the aspirations of our students and for the needs of agriculture and the green industries in New England,” said Goodwin. Among Mitchell’s personal goal to sell his home in Maine, he says “the most important goal as the Stockbridge School Director this year, is to develop a strong network with the UMass community, alumni, and supporters of the Stockbridge School and UMass.” His most significant contribution is his relationship with students. “There’s a lot of inspiration that goes unseen when you develop those relationships with the student body,” he said. “A lot of success happens that way.” Mitchell didn’t dream of becoming a professor his entire life. In fact, when he graduated from the undergraduate program in 1973, that was the last thing in his career plans. Mitchell started as a teacher’s assistant in the department and enjoyed working closely with students and professors, that quickly became mentors, and encouraged him to pursue graduate school. This is when things shifted. “My department head at the time was Ross Whealy, who encouraged me to take a number of courses in education and hooked me up with Bob Sinclair,” added Mitchell. “While this was happening Jack Denison, Dean and Director of the Stockbridge School hired me as an instructor to teach a number of courses in the Landscape Operations program. During my last year as a graduate student/instructor I was the recipient of the “Outstanding Professor” award for the academic year 1974-1975. Having professors in my life as a student at UMass who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to “test drive” a profession totally changed my career goals.” --- *this article will be printed in the Daily Collegian on September 2, 2008. "Kat" [
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