Mission, Objectives, and Membership
First Convening--September 2019
Otis College Mission
Otis College of Art and Design educates a diverse community of students to become highly skilled, well-informed, and responsible professionals--empowering them to shape the world.
President's Council Mission
The President's Council provides advisory input on topics of campus-wide interest to ensure mission-centric and strategic College administration and informed decision-making, and to foster teamwork and high workplace performance through diverse consultative leadership.
Council Composition
- The President
- The Provost
- Two Trustees recommended by the President in consultation with the Board Chair, which rotate every meeting
- Two Senior Team members, which rotate every meeting
- Senior Executive Assistant to the President
- Executive Assistant to the Provost
Appointments by/Invitation from the President (one-year terms)
- Two Faculty Senate representatives (one full-time and one adjunct)
- One academic chair/assistant chair representative
- One part-time faculty representative
- One Staff Council representative
- Six division reports (staff members) with demonstrated College leadership ability and with key constituent perspective
- Two Student representatives
- Two Alumni representatives
The Council may expand for discussion of special topics that require input from others, as needed, including Students' Union representatives, etc.
Membership
Fall 2021
- Heather Joseph-Witham - Associate Professor
- Drew Plakos - Adjunct Professor
- Kali Nikitas - Chair, Communication Arts
- Nicole Raef - Associate Registrar
- Marisol Porras - Lecturer
- Mohammed Ahmed - Operations Manager
- Leo Peña - Budget Analyst
- Melinda Herbert - HRIS Manager and Faculty Contract Specialist
- Becca Todd - Graphic Designer
- Frankie Resto - Director, Office of Student Engagement and Leadership
- Carrie Banasky - Director, Advancement Operations
- Delaney Engle - Student
- Arabella Osorio - Student
- Shannon Doronio - Alumnx
- Jynx Prado - Alumnx
Fall 2020
- Renee Petropolous - Professor, Graduate Fine Arts
- Miguel Valenti - Adjunct Professor
- Peter Gadol - Chair, MFA Writing Program
- Nicole Raef, Associate Registrar
- Cathy Lightfoot - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Matthew Ballard - Director, Technology Infrastructure
- Liza Mullins - Associate VP and Controller
- Patrick Noonan - Director, Learning & Development/Employee Relations
- Karissa Lake - Social Media Coordinator
- Melinda Patton - Assistant Director, Residence Life and Housing
- Carrie Banasky - Director, Advancement Operations
- Delaney Engle - Student
- Sean Baucom - Student
- Catherine Hernandez - Alumnx
- Leonardo Bravo - Alumnx
Spring 2020
- Jennifer Moon - Assistant Professor, Fine Arts and Faculty Senate co-Chair
- Renee Petropolous - Professor, Graduate Fine Arts
- Linda Hudson - Chair, Foundation Program
- Angila Romious - Director, Institutional Research and Effectiveness
- Claude Nica - Chief Facilities and Operations Officer
- Melinda Herbert - Contract Speacialist, Human Resources and Development
- Elektra Grant - Academic Coordinator, Communication Arts
- April Kullis - Executive Assistant, Presidents Office
- Winifred Neisser - Trustee
- Bronya Galef - Trustee
- Members of the Senior Team
Fall 2019
- Rachel Roske - Assistant Professor, Foundation and Faculty Senate leader
- Renee Petropolous - Professor, Graduate Fine Arts
- Linda Hudson - Chair, Foundation Program
- Harry Mott - Chair, Digital Media
- Michaela Matsumoto - Director of One Stop
- Sheharazad Fleming - Creative Director, Communications and Marketing
- Natasha Kobrinsky - Director of Office of Financial Aid
- Ana Florentino - Executive Assistant, Provost Office
- April Kullis - Executive Assistant, Presidents Office
- Winifred Neisser - Trustee
- Bronya Galef - Trustee
- Members of the Senior Team
Member Responsibilities
- Attendance and active participation
- Broad consideration of community interests beyond divisional and departmental level
- Ownership of joint recommendations
- Confidentiality and sensitivity
- Collegial interaction
President's Council Objectives
- To provide broad input to improve institutional excellence per the College mission
- To improve workplace effectiveness for the campus community
- To inform decision-making based on the (Working) Strategic Plan
- To align protocols and procedures with the College's educational mission
- To aid administrative clarity by ensuring diversity of perspectives and expertise
- To model and promote consultative leadership