James J. Valentini, (Permanent) Dean of Columbia College

It’s official: According to this letter from Prezbo, Interim Dean James J. Valentini is the new permanent Dean of Columbia College.

According to the Selection Committee, Deantini is the “ideal candidate for the position of Columbia College Dean” due to “the depth of his understanding of Columbia College,” particularly its finances, administrative structure, and financial aid.

Don’t feel too bad for the other three candidates. They might not be dean, but they are “attractive candidates” with “great potential for assuming leadership roles in the future.”

Here’s the Selection Committee’s letter:

The search committee for the Dean of Columbia College has concluded its work. After considering a long list of nominations and interviewing four candidates over several days, we recommended to President Bollinger that he appoint Interim Dean Jim Valentini to the position. The decision was unanimous and enthusiastically endorsed by all members of the search committee. Jim impressed the committee with the depth of his understanding of Columbia College and the clarity of his thinking about the future of undergraduate education here. His grasp of budgetary process and his familiarity with the institution’s new administrative structures position him well to provide effective leadership at this pivotal moment in the life of the College within the University. We were struck in particular by his appreciation of the contributions of all members of the community – students, alumni, faculty, and administration – in making Columbia College a world-class liberal arts learning environment. Jim is also firmly committed to ensuring that all Columbia College students are able to avail themselves of academic opportunities, regardless of their financial circumstances.

In his nine months as Interim Dean, Jim Valentini has set the highest standards for transparency and integrity in the governance of the College and the Arts and Sciences. He has brought energy and creativity to every task. Finally, he has demonstrated his capacity for compassion and personal engagement with the students on this campus. These qualities make him an ideal candidate for the position of Columbia College Dean.

In the course of conducting interviews, the committee identified other attractive candidates with great potential for assuming leadership roles in the future. We have communicated these findings to President Bollinger as well.

The search committee was composed of faculty, students and alumni to ensure that the perspectives of all groups were represented.

Sincerely,

Ruth DeFries
Chair and Denning Family Professor of Sustainable Development, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

Chris Brown
Professor, Department of History

Bob O’Meally
Zora Neale Hurston Professor of English and Comparative Literature

Cathy Popkin
Jesse and George Siegel Professor in the Humanities, Department of Slavic Languages

Tom DiPrete
Giddings Professor of Sociology

Stuart Firestein
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Christia Mercer
Gustav A. Berne Professor of Philosophy

Norma Graham
William B. Ransford Professor of Psychology

Kyra Barry
Alumna (CC ’87), President of the Columbia College Alumni Association

Yale Fergang
Alumnus (CC ’87 EN ’88), Chair of the Columbia College Board of Visitors

J.T. Ramseur
Student (CC ’13), Psychology

Mary Kircher
Student (CC ’13), Economics

Karishma Habbu
Student (CC ’13), President of the Columbia College Student Council

After the jump, read Prezbo’s letter

Spotted! PrezBo and the Deans huddled together at Homecoming. The band‘s recently released EP, “New Fundraising [Protocol]” received tepid reviews and the band hasn’t been seen together in public since their disastrous “War (What Is It Good For?) tour last summer. Roar, Lion, Roar!

Update: We lost.

Duh

Dear Bwog,

I don’t mean to sound obnoxious, but people here aren’t as cultured as I expected. No one shares my music taste or gets my quirky brand of humor. It’s not that I’m so sophisticated or anything; there’s just some basic knowledge I assumed people had.

I guess I just haven’t met people on my wavelength. Classes already started, and I still haven’t found my crew.

~Crewzing

Dear Crewzing,

There’s no need so shocked when someone hasn’t heard of that semi-obscure band you worship. The patronizing question, “You really haven’t heard of Prezbo and the Deans*?” makes people feel uncomfortable–especially when combined with the toxic eyebrow raise. Of course, displays of superiority aren’t limited to music. If you dumped out the contents of 2014’s brains, you could reassemble and compile a comprehensive encyclopedia. In other words, Fourteen-ers, you know your shit. Kudos, but Columbia’s contained campus doesn’t have a lot of space for people mounted on high horses. That nice guy from the Great Plains may not be familiar with some Dadaist art exhibit downtown, but he definitely knows a few things you don’t. And don’t be so surprised when that soft-spoken preppy girl down the hall actually has fantastic music taste. Friends come in all shapes, sizes and styles.

Now that that’s out of our system, let’s talk timelines. Your buddies during the first week of college won’t necessarily be your go-to-crew for the next four years. Sometimes, months pass before you meet people you feel like you really mesh with. And that’s totally fine. There are 7,169 undergraduates here. You’ll find someone.

Obviously people are drawn to Columbia for its academic opportunities, but you have a solid five weeks before you even need to think about midterms. Soak up the sweet sun of September and put off problem sets for parties. Marvel at your classmates; you may end up marrying one of them. But actually. If all else fails, you live in the greatest city in the world.

Much Love,
Bwog

* Bwog’s dream band name. It’s like Diana Ross and the Supremes, but not.  Plus, Diana and Prezbo both have great hair.