Alumna, faculty, dean: Begemann’s many hats

Marianne Begemann, herself a Vassar graduate of 1979 and professor of chemistry since 1985, knows the College inside and out. In 2007 she moved up as associate dean of the Faculty, and starting on Jan. 1 Begemann accepted a new role as dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources. The position was previously held by Rachel Kitzinger and called the dean of Planning and Academic Resources. Begemann said she was not involved with the name change. "But I heard it had been discussed, as people joked that I would not have to be called ‘the DOPAA,'" Begemann laughed.

Begemann received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1984 and then briefly taught at Mills College beforing returning to Vassar in 1985. "I never thought I would come back," Begemann said. "I didn't even know I wanted to go in to teaching when I was in graduate school. But the opportunity came up and I realized I had a strong interest in being able to incorporate undergraduate research into a college program."

She was able to bring this interest to the forefront while working with students on Undergraduate Research Summer Institute projects and as director of the program in the early 1990s. Although Begemann found it difficult to pick a favorite project, one was "a multi-year project in the Shawangunks to better understand the factors that influence aluminum distribution between soils, water and sediments in the Coxing Kill, a small stream that has a natural longitudinal pH gradient," she wrote in an emailed statement.

Begemann still has strong ties to her department, which is reflected in her enthusiasm for the major science facilities project. Her role in the project will continue to entail big-picture planning, but she will work less directly with faculty and Buildings and Grounds as construction approaches.

On her move from dean of the Faculty to dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources, Begemann said, "The two positions don't overlap but they have common interests. For example, the Library is of significance to faculty but it is also a resource for students and the institution, broadly speaking, with important on-going concerns like collection development, storage questions, academic outreach and budgetary constraints that require strategic planning." Begemann said that one of the areas she would like to develop in her new role is long-range space planning, which she views as an important component of the job.

As far as projects for this year, Begemann noted that maintaining competitive compensation and need-blind admission have been important considerations recently. "Moving forward, we know that we need to keep our faculty compensation competitive with peer institutions, but this is difficult when the budget is really tight ... When you have serious constraints, how to do all of those things, and do them well, is in general terms what I'm thinking of right now," Begemann said.

In addition to beginning her own projects, Begemann will take over the projects Kitzinger had been working on. A faculty salary study with the dean of the Faculty and the members of the faculty compensation committee was in the works.

"She was also working with members of the multidisciplinary programs on planning for space for the programs when New England Building is renovated as part of the science project and with students about uses for the Bookstore space when the Bookstore moves to the Juliet location," Begemann wrote in an emailed statement.

Begemann enjoyed the responsibility that has come with being associate dean of the Faculty and looks forward to her first year as dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources. She accepted the associate dean of the Faculty position when Ron Sharp was dean of the Faculty. "[He] asked me to take it on because I thought I would enjoy the opportunity to work closely with the faculty and the administration to further the mission of the institution in ways that I did not as a faculty member," Begemann wrote. "I imagined I would like the challenge and complexity of working with diverse individuals and limited resources. The challenges presented to the dean of Faculty office because of our relatively ‘organic' curriculum and autonomous departments and programs was, and is, intriguing and stimulating."

Begemann has already learned from her new position. "One of the things I didn't know about the position before the interview process was that I would be working with students. I believe Rachel [Kitzinger] met on a monthly basis with members of the VSA [Vassar Student Association], which is something I really look forward to," Begemann said.

2012 promises to be another important year for the College, and Begemann is prepared and excited for the challenge of it.