May 2009 Archives

Had a delightful visit this morning with Margaret Buttross-Brinegar, director of the Children's Center for Communication and Development.  I hadn't seen the Center in years, certainly not since the splendid renovation.  The place positively sparkles in both appearance and spirit, a direct reflection, I'm tempted to think, of Margaret's own personality.  Like the neighboring DuBard School, the Children's Center is a true jewel of the College of Health, not brought out nearly enough for admiration and celebration.

The Mississippi legislature reconvenes tomorrow, still divided on how best to craft a budget for the coming fiscal year (beginning July 1).  The size of cuts to public higher education -- along with the financing of Medicaid and other vital social and public services -- hangs in the balance. 

Current cabinet-level talk at Southern Miss suggests that 4.5% cut scenarios submitted some weeks ago will be adopted.  Earlier optimism that federal stimulus funds would allow a "flat" budget, or cuts of 3% or less, has faded.  I can't speak for the other colleges, let alone non-instructional sectors, but 4.5% cuts will wreak havoc on College of Health programs.  There's no painless way to absorb such a blow; indeed, there's no "absorbing" at all.

I attended Wesley Medical Center's "Strong Women" awards ceremony yesterday with Dianne Coleman, a deserving nominee in the "mentor" category.  While Dianne didn't win the award, it was inspiring to sit in a room filled (largely) by scores of outstanding women from our community.  The diversity of age, race, talent, and occupation represented there at the Convention Center was striking.  Hats off to Wesley for producing this valuable and important annual event.

The experience prompted a reflection on the extensive role women play in the College of Health.  At present, women administrators lead four of the college's seven units.  Professional staff in the dean's office and unit offices is predominantly female.  Most significantly, the undergraduate student body across the seven units is nearly 70% women, and women graduate students make up fully 75% of the total.

Lisa Witter and Lisa Chen, New York marketing professionals and authors of the paradigm-shifting book, "The She Spot," call today's women "the market for changing the world."  If you're looking for the "she spot" of Southern Miss, look no further than the College of Health.

Had a stimulating exchange with Mayor DuPree this afternoon down at City Hall.  The mayor's a long-time supporter of the School of Social Work, and is now expanding that support to the entire College of Health.  More than anything, he's a strong advocate of a vibrant town-gown connection, and has a wealth of ideas on how we can do better.  Genuine partnership is the key.  One plump fruit of collaboration has already arrived in the form of Nutrition and Food System's multi-year NIH grant for walking/obesity prevention.  While the university "has" the grant, the project was only possible through the support and close cooperation of the city and other community partners.  The funded program is a classic "win-win," and we can use many more like it.

Great visit this afternoon with Doug Higginbotham, CEO of South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.  We discovered that our organizations share a number of challenges - including a relentless squeeze from funding sources, multiple cost drivers beyond our control, and widespread perceptions that somehow we're rolling in money!  Grounds for partnership?  Indeed.  But maybe the best - a  passion to serve our "consumers" despite the obstacles.

Hey, whatever happened to "summer slowdown"?  Spring semester put to bed, it was time to turn attention this week to other accumulating concerns - too many to catalog here, but two in particular occupying center stage in the first week following commencement:

1.      Leadership.  I was delighted to wrap up three internal searches that help prepare us to face the challenges of the new fiscal year that begins July 1.  Tim Rehner was the "easy" one, given that Tim has served well as interim director of social work since I stepped into the interim dean's spot last May.  Steve Cloud, as the unanimous choice of the faculty in speech and hearing sciences to succeed outgoing chair Brett Kemker, was an uncomplicated selection as well.  More competitive was the search for a full-time associate dean, but a solid recommendation from a three-person advisory committee sealed Sue Hubble as the pick there.  Best wishes to these dedicated colleagues.

 I had hoped to wrap the search for a director of human performance and recreation too, but as the only external search - iced during the spring semester "freeze" and later revived - it's taking a little longer.  Despite the lateness date, I still hope for a successful outcome.

2.      Development (aka fund-raising).  A first priority is building up the dean's council, a circle of up to 25 external supporters and "partners" of the college.  This group serves a number of key functions, including promoting college programs, providing resources and access to resources, and placing (helping to place) our graduates in career-making positions.  Hence we (that is, Meredith Cothern, our development officer, and I) are on the hunt for persons of "affluence and influence," both local and beyond, who share the vision and passion of the College of Health.  The search is going well, but more visits (many more!) lie ahead, as we plan toward a "new" council kickoff meeting in September.