Lovell announces sabbatical plans
For the last decade, Cheryl Lovell, PhD has served the college of education in a leadership capacity as the associate dean dealing with all academic, faculty, student, and policy matters. While her primary contributions have been made on the academic side of the college and the university, her impact on the effectiveness of the college has been wide spread. She has supported the dean's office over the last ten years and has been instrumental in helping the college reach significant accomplishments.
Internal Leadership is Important
Cheryl is most noted for her keen policy contributions where she has been working with everyone to establish, co-create, and support college policies. She is the one person everyone seeks out to understand how to handle important academic and administrative issues. Some of the noted accomplishments include her leadership to co-create the MCE Bulletin, MCE Faculty Staff Handbook, MCE Faculty Search Handbook, formalization of all the program handbooks and curricular developments, faculty orientation program, and enhancing the annual faculty review process. According to Assistant Dean, Bill McGreevy, "The work of the Associate Dean is at the heart of the academic life of the Morgridge College of Education. Cheryl Lovell has taken on and completed large, complex tasks such as the academic self study. She worked to ensure that the memorandum of understanding for the new Denver Teacher Residency was crafted, reviewed, approved and signed in record time. And, she has shepherded annual projects such as faculty workload plans, new program proposals, student handbooks, and faculty evaluations to completion on schedule."
Assistant Director, Dr. Sandy Mondragon notes that "Cheryl has been instrumental in providing leadership for implementing policies and procedures that have ensured consistency across the college. The end result has been a reduction in duplication of tasks and a clear understanding of staff roles and responsibilities in the college. Cheryl has also been a strong advocate for sensible policies at the university level that are student-centered and student-friendly. Her advocacy for MCE students has been exceptional and her willingness to go to bat for students should be commended." Similarly, Dr. Paul Michalec, Chair, Curriculum and Instruction notes that "Cheryl is a tireless advocate for linking policy and decision making to program coherency and the learning needs of students. She was the pivotal energy and insight behind several MCE policy and program changes including: clarifying the adjunct hiring process, developing a functional adjunct orientation process, development of a faculty handbook, the development and implementation of new end-of-course evaluation system, the development of the Boettcher Teachers Program and the Denver Teacher Residency, and the creation of the Learning and Teaching Committee."
Dr. Kathy Green also provides an insightful view of Cheryl's work. "Dr. Lovell has taken an active or lead role on critical issues dealing with retention, recruitment, and enrollment with an outstanding record of service to the discipline and the college through her own research, scholarship, and expertise. And she's done it all while maintaining a wicked sense of humor and improving her golf game." Michalec also notes "Cheryl was frequently both a policy "geek" and jokester, ready to join in on a good laugh." He also contends that "Cheryl never slept; but she did breathe, eat, and think MCE."
While others have lots of praise for Cheryl's contribution, she has some difficulty in identifying her most important accomplishments. Hesitantly she acknowledges that seeing new faculty scholars grow in their roles and develop substantial research agendas has been a lot of fun. "Sometimes just a simple conversation about different ways to present one's research or presenting a new lens for viewing how a class project with students and schools can be the beginning of a legitimate and valuable research agenda is really critical to helping our junior scholars establish themselves in the academy." Lovell goes on to note, "These kinds of contributions have just been part of my role and to know that my work has been supportive to others is rewarding."
Next opportunities
A sabbatical provides a great opportunity for faculty to expand their research, teaching, and administrative expertise. Cheryl has jumped right in on this front as she has already started a major policy project where she currently serves as the Special Advisor to the Chair of the Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission which began its work in June. This State of Colorado Commission is charged with providing recommendations on "what kind of state do we want and how will we fund it." Lovell is working with the Commission Chair on a number of items and is central to developing a methodology for moving the Commission from information to decisions. The final report is due early November so the Commission work is a top priority for her this fall. There will be other projects with the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Additionally, she will be traveling extensively with a trip around the world to explore higher education models in five countries (New Zealand, Australia, India, Greece, and Egypt). Finally, getting the opportunity to work with and "shadow" highly successful campus administrators and state education policy leaders will also be on her agenda throughout the year. Regarding Cheryl's policy work, McGreevy notes "Cheryl's work at the state level continues to ensure that the University of Denver and the Morgridge College of Education have an important voice in shaping education policy." With her sabbatical plans it appears she will continue with those excellent efforts.
In summary, Cheryl's contributions are vast and our college has moved
forward in leaps as a result of her dedication and hard work. When asked what she
will miss most about this coming academic year Cheryl states "I'll miss the smell
of leather from a new pair of Bass Penny loafers I would generally buy every September"
(she'll not be buying them this year since she doesn?t need any new 'school clothes'
for this fall!). But more seriously I will miss the interactions with wonderfully
dedicated colleagues and the many interesting challenges that were part of each day.
In a geeky sort of way I enjoy solving problems and finding the best solution(s)."
She goes on to reflect more deeply by stating "change is good and I'm so ready for
this change and feel very blessed to have this wonderful opportunity."
Please join me in thanking Cheryl for her longstanding commitment and contributions to the college and wishing her a fruitful and fulfilling year while on sabbatical.
Gregory M. Anderson, Dean, Morgridge College of Education
