Office of the Provost & Vice President
University Library Introduces First Credit-Bearing Course
The Library's inaugural credit-bearing course (LIB 296A – The Information Ecosystem: Becoming A Savvy User) will be offered for the first time this spring. The course was approved as an experimental course in spring 2022 which means it can be offered up to four times in the next six years. Since the Library now has an approved credit-bearing course, going forward the road has been paved for other Library faculty interested in designing their own courses. Two sections of the course will be offered and taught by Dr. Ahmed Alwan and Dr. Eric Garcia, with Christina Mayberry working behind the scenes to assist with instructional design, course resources, assessment, and logistics. In addition, Lizette Campos is providing further assistance with SOLAR updates, monitoring class enrollments, verifying student records, handling add/drop requests, and retrieving information from OnBase.
Meet the Dean: Joyce Feucht-Haviar, CSUN Senior International Officer & Dean of The Tseng College
What brought you to CSUN?
An executive search firm, two remarkable CSUN leaders (Blenda Wilson and Louanne Kennedy), a plane (and a moving truck). Blenda and Louanne thought there could be (should be) a different way to use the self-support capacity at CSUN than how it was used at that time (which was very much in keeping with the standard approach of other universities in the system). They didn’t know exactly what that “different way” might be or where it might lead. They were looking for someone who could take on the role and then create that different way. I really couldn’t say no to that.
How long have you been Dean?
I told Blenda and Louanne I would stay as long as it remained interesting. I do believe that was around 25 years ago. I tend to be forward focused (with a good bit of drifting into the adjoining worlds of “what if” and “why not”) so keeping track of exactly when I arrived or when this or that started is … but I do know who in my College to ask if such space/time specifics are needed.
What do you like most about your position?
The fact that today is rarely like yesterday. It is a big innovative space. A big canvas one might say (and as someone with a bit of history – somewhat ongoing – in the visual arts) and that does work for me. It is a role that allows me to work with a remarkable group of creative colleagues in the College to change what is possible (expand it) for CSUN, our partner colleges and those we serve. Together we build new capacities that allow us to support student success start to finish, develop programs that are crafting with faculty teams to offer new approaches to the educational experiences we at CSUN provide for those entrusting their future to us, and work in new ways to design solutions in an ever-changing context. Oh, and I am also, some would say a bit of a troublemaker (a disruptor) I have been told and my role seems to allow for that to thrive too. So, it does remain interesting indeed – it has a foundation in one’s ability to “imagine”.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Probably a good many things. Maybe that time I won a dog training competition when I as about 12. Or the time I got a summer job at a riding stable riding their more difficult horses until they were less difficult. And then there was the stint as a bartender …
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I find it useful to remember that life is only available in the present moment. And, also, what people created in the past (including organizational structures, practices, etc.) can be recreated by those people who wish to (need to) do so today. Oh, and, useful to know which restaurants serve a really good breakfast and where to get a great cup of coffee.
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