2008 Woodie Awards
Cheers, Dr. Cole
Last minute chancellor leaves amid praise of his administration
By Ben Williams, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News
A year has passed since Interim Chancellor Thomas Cole stepped onto a campus with a steep learning curve and little room for error. Now, new chancellor Robert C. Holub, faces much of the same as he makes UMass a more permanent home.
While Cole was only at UMass for a short time, his connection with many of the faculty and staff was evident, with over 100 people showing up this past July for his official going away event.
Among them were UMass president Jack Wilson, interim vice chancellor for student affairs Esther Terry, Domenic J. Sarno and even sign guy - yes, that sign guy. He came to cheer, with a signature sign that said "Team Cole" and sported a large No. 1.
Nobody had anything but praise for Cole, who, as Wilson explained, was thrust into the position near the beginning of the school year, as time was running out for UMass.
"The overwhelming sentiment is you would be hard pressed to find someone better," said Terry in her speech.
Nearly all the speakers mentioned Cole's wit and willingness to listen to concerns.
"If you look up gentleman in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Thomas Cole," said Sarno, who called Cole a "kindred spirit."
Here, Cole continued the Amherst 250 plan, which calls for the hiring of 250 more professors. Started in 2006, Cole said he was most proud of continuing that project.
Terry also mentioned how connected Cole was to the students. She recounted how, when Cole was at the NIT cheering on the UMass Basketball team, he learned a student committed suicide on campus. Rather than attend his scheduled meeting in Boston, Cole returned to campus and met face-to-face with students.
The crowd gave him a standing ovation when he ended with, "Thank you all for your support and for coming today and most of all for your love for UMass. Go UMass."
To follow that act Holub will have to put in quite a performance, but he certainly has plenty of opportunity on his plate to show he is a leader with the kind of vision UMass is looking for.
While Cole was only at UMass for a short time, his connection with many of the faculty and staff was evident, with over 100 people showing up this past July for his official going away event.
Among them were UMass president Jack Wilson, interim vice chancellor for student affairs Esther Terry, Domenic J. Sarno and even sign guy - yes, that sign guy. He came to cheer, with a signature sign that said "Team Cole" and sported a large No. 1.
Nobody had anything but praise for Cole, who, as Wilson explained, was thrust into the position near the beginning of the school year, as time was running out for UMass.
"The overwhelming sentiment is you would be hard pressed to find someone better," said Terry in her speech.
Nearly all the speakers mentioned Cole's wit and willingness to listen to concerns.
"If you look up gentleman in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Thomas Cole," said Sarno, who called Cole a "kindred spirit."
Here, Cole continued the Amherst 250 plan, which calls for the hiring of 250 more professors. Started in 2006, Cole said he was most proud of continuing that project.
Terry also mentioned how connected Cole was to the students. She recounted how, when Cole was at the NIT cheering on the UMass Basketball team, he learned a student committed suicide on campus. Rather than attend his scheduled meeting in Boston, Cole returned to campus and met face-to-face with students.
The crowd gave him a standing ovation when he ended with, "Thank you all for your support and for coming today and most of all for your love for UMass. Go UMass."
To follow that act Holub will have to put in quite a performance, but he certainly has plenty of opportunity on his plate to show he is a leader with the kind of vision UMass is looking for.
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