In line with my boss at the campus dining room today:
Boss: Stacey, have you met S0-And-So?
Me (extending hand): No, so nice to meet you! I'm the new managing editor.
So-And-So: I'm the executive assistant to the dean of students.
Me (feeling proud): Oh! I met him this morning!
S0-And-So: (perplexed look)
Me: Yes! Kevin introduced me to him when I was on my way in!
So-And-So (kindly): Um, the dean is on vacation this week.
I later realized that I'd met the dean of faculty in the morning. Oops. Students, faculty, six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Moi
- Snickollet
- I'm a mother and a widow, and a whole lot of other things. Here, though, I tend to write about parenting, grief, and their intersection.
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21 comments:
So happy to hear you have all arrived safely and are now in Portland! Gorgeous city from what I have seen in past visits. Hoping you all settle in well and things go very smoothly. You so deserve it Snick.
Hee, hee. If he hadn't been on vacation, you might've been off the hook.
Don't feel too bad. I once hung up on the Clerk of a Federal Court. Not the way to make a good first impression.
It's hard to remember everyones name and title - but they will all remember you since you're the new person!
Relax and enjoy getting to know everyone!
Oops. None the less you arrived safe and sound at your new job and it sounds as if your colleages are nice and understanding.
GO SNICK, we know you can do it
Don't worry about it :-) No one expects you to keep the admins straight at a college...or the acronyms. Everything in the college work place has an acronym for some reason....I went to the wrong office once for a meeting because I confused Counseling Consultation with Career Connections.... I sat there for 15 minutes wondering why I was the only one there and why we were having a meeting at the counseling office...I kind of thought it was some kind of intervention! lol :-)
So many different titles, so many similar descriptions, easy to get confused. Sounds like it was graciously righted. Reed sounds like the perfect place for you and I wish you so much happiness and a new adventure around every corner. Loved the twins' picture. Beautiful!
Oh geeze, no worry, can't expect you to know names AND titles =) Not yet anyways. Still sounds like a great start.
Doh! :-) Welcome to higher ed. At my last job, I had two bosses. Both were named Tom. Both had the title "Dean." It was a bit of an issue.
Ha, good stuff, I wouldn't worry, savvy will come later:)
Aww who gives a shit about the names and titles?
I'm just happy to hear that you're getting into your groove on the other side of the country!
At my last job, I have explained to someone (I missed his name) that I was taking over so-and-so's old job. The man replied, "Oh! I'm so-and-so."
So embarrassing. I need to pay attention or ask for the name again when I don't catch it the first time.
lol! well, a lot of new names to learn....
Ah, the Dean of something or other I'm sure is as important as the Dean of the other something or other.
So many deans, so little time.
So now when you meet the dean of students, you'll have a funny story to tell him!
No one will mind. You are probably meeting zillions of people and you can't be expected to remember them all.
Funny story though.
And you are taking me back. I worked in a similar office for a university in LA for several years. I was the production manager of the alumni magazine plus tons of other materials. It was a fun job! And being on a campus has its perks.
After about 10 years at the same university I finally saw a flow chart of the whole organization. It wasn't until then that I even had a clue as to how to keep people straight. Who knew "academic affairs" and "student affairs" were different divisions?
You're not alone.
SO something I would do. I'm sure it won't count against you. ;-)
I work at a university--welcome to my world. Hopefully you aren't cursed with a bevy of "associate" deans and "assistant" deans. Heaven forbid you mix up those titles (as I have done. Many times.)
Hope the faculty there are better than those at Rollins. Deans, students -- after 20 years it doesn't matter to me anymore--they are melt together. I just don't want to see any of them. UGH.
But after 20 years, I do know the Dean of Fac. from Dean of Students.
;-) All the best to you, Stacey!
I just had one of those weeks. I was in Seattle as part of an NSF review panel. Keeping track of everyone was a serious chore. The funny part was that I was one of three Pauls on the panel. Every time the chair addressed one of the other Pauls, I automatically turned to respond.
On the plus side, we had some terrific salmon. Oh, to have really fresh salmon! I'm envious.
If you do make it up to Seattle, I highly recommend Serafina in the Eastlake district. Really fresh pasta and seasonal ingredients. Recommended to me by my favorite food blogger (Kim O'Donnell, A Mighty Appetite).
Cheers!
Paul
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