New Faculty Welcomed to Borough and Campus

"You come to Brooklyn College at a time of great institutional transformation," Associate Provost Jerry Mirotznik told the thirty-nine newest members of the school’s faculty at the Thursday, August 21 reception and luncheon in the Student Center penthouse.

Mirotznik, who had earlier joined the new instructors in the now traditional bus tour across the borough, added that while over 50 percent of the College's faculty have been hired after 2000—a demographic revolution, in his estimation—both new and veteran faculty will be testing out a new class schedule grid. He then introduced them to a host of top College officials who had warm words for the new professors and provided them with useful information.

"We know you are committed to good teaching, to honing students' talents and skills and giving them that additional dimension they need to succeed professionally," said President Christoph M. Kimmich.

Provost Bill Tramontano reiterated the College’s commitment to support the professors in their teaching endeavors, and he asked them “to involve and engage our students in this process, because we are here to serve the students who are entrusted to us.”

The luncheon also gave the new faculty a chance to share information about their academic and research specialties and interests.

"You can say I had trial by fire," noted history professor Chris Warren, who holds a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and has taught at Georgia University and Emory. After having taught four classes at the College last semester, he considered teaching at BC a great opportunity to get a tenure track position. "I also enjoyed the students' diversity."

Sociologist Tamara Mose Brown, a former choreographer from Ontario who received her master’s and Ph.D. from CUNY, had taught one semester as a Brooklyn College adjunct when she found out about an opening in the Sociology Department. "I was very impressed by the students, and also from knowing that the department has a significant Caribbean population I could relate to," said Mose Brown, who is of Trinidadian background. "I got a big boost from the students who took my 'Urban Life and Culture' class, and now here I am." 

"Meeting the needs and expectations of the students who come here by choice to get their degrees and those who may be the first in their families to attend college is a challenge I welcome," Warren said.