Post date: Aug 5, 2011 6:03:32 AM
Dear SIT Graduate Institute Students:
I wanted to add to my announcement last week about Dr. Preeti Shroff-Mehta (Preeti) agreeing to serve as interim Dean of the SIT Graduate Institute for the next academic year.
I asked Preeti to take on this role because she is an educational visionary, a bridge builder and change agent committed to social justice.
Preeti will become the Dean of a graduate program that already has a strong foundation that includes: an important vision, mission and pedagogical approach; excellent students; a committed faculty and staff; strong degree programs; and a wonderful reputation. Preeti will help us work together as a community to focus on three very specific goals:
· Ensure the absolute highest academic quality and rigor by better leveraging the global array of faculty and partners connected to World Learning.
· Improve the practicum and job placement process by connecting students to the World Learning global network of people who can be a resource for students in a more formal and strategic way.
· Create an environment where experimentation can thrive and we can continuously experiment with new methods and models of delivering transformative graduate programs.
Preeti brings a range of skills and experiences to the Deans role. She worked at World Learning from 2004-2008. Hence, she can build bridges across the organization that will benefit graduate students. She has lived and worked with indigenous communities, marginalized groups around the world and has developed and managed projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Thus, she has lived a life that embodies our mission.
Preeti will split her time between Brattleboro and Washington. In our early conversations about the position, Preeti told me that one of the draws to the position is spending time in Vermont and getting to work closely with our students “as partners in achieving global citizenship education and learning excellence.”
I am very excited to welcome her to this new role. I know she is excited to hear from you. I would encourage students who have ideas and/or observations to email her at shroffmehtap(AT)gmail(DOT)com .
~Adam