President Joe Bertolino Named President of SCSU
President Joe Bertolino Named President of SCSU
Will Take Over New Post in August
July 7, 2016
Dear Lyndon State College Community:
It is with mixed emotions that I write to advise you that I will step down as Lyndon State College’s 15th President, effective August 19, 2016. This morning, the Board of Regents of the Connecticut State College and University System appointed me the 12th President of Southern Connecticut State University, effective August 22, 2016. While the decision to leave Lyndon during this time of change has been a difficult one, it is one that Bil and I believe is best for our family.
Lyndon is an extraordinary institution. A little over four years ago I visited Lyndon, enamored by the students, the community, and the beautiful landscape. Today I continue to be enamored by all that is Lyndon. I vividly remember meeting with students and being told that Lyndon was a special place where people “knew my name.” I sat in the alumni dining room as faculty and staff shared the many traits that made Lyndon special. Despite the many changes of these past four years, these relationships and these traits still define the community that is Lyndon State College.
While there is much to be proud of, I am particularly proud of the relationships that we have built and that have strengthened our community. Our community has always come together in solidarity to overcome challenges and support one another in times of need. While the profile of our institution has increased, so too has our LSC pride.
We’ve made extraordinary progress together. Our accomplishments include improved curricular offerings and national program recognitions. We introduced the College’s first online degree program in Early Childhood Education and created a new Center for Professional Studies. We expanded services to students and built or renovated facilities, including new science labs, a new MBI lab, a new EJA studio, new smart classrooms, a new veterans’ lounge, and several academic department annexes where students and faculty can gather to create connections around their studies. Faculty have secured funding for research in a variety of disciplines. The College developed its very first Facilities Master Plan and rolled out the new Strategic Plan titled, “Building Relationships.”
We can feel pride in our fundraising success. We’ve raised millions. In the past two years, Lyndon has secured a record number of gifts from a record number of donors. We’ve made and surpassed our fundraising goals and grown our endowment. With these scholarship funds, many local students have come to Lyndon who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to attend college.
Lyndon students have won awards, assisted with research, founded a music festival in honor of a beloved classmate, discovered themselves through friendships, internships, and faculty and staff relationships, and have graduated to begin careers and graduate study across the country.
In my view, however, the hallmark of these past few years has been a renewed commitment to respecting all members of our community through our Year of Social Justice and Year of Compassion. As the community faces new challenges, my hope is the Year of Courage will serve as a rallying cry to support that which makes Lyndon so special-the people in this community!
In the near future, Chancellor Spaulding will announce the appointment of an interim president. Know that I will work closely with the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition.
Finally, I wish to thank the President’s Leadership Team, the President’s Advisory Council, faculty, staff, student leadership, alumni, volunteers, and all of you for your support, dedication, hard work, and commitment to Lyndon. Without you, Lyndon could not possibly be the special place that it is. I must also give a special recognition to Darcie Miles, my executive assistant, who has helped me navigate all that is Lyndon and the VSC.
Know that Bil and I will forever be grateful for the friends we have made, the relationships we have formed, and for the many students whose lives we had the honor to touch.
I have the utmost confidence in the team that will guide Lyndon in the coming months and year as a transition in leadership takes place. We have talent and smarts in our leadership team, in the broader LSC community, and throughout the VSC. Lyndon is strong-and that is because of each and every one of you.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve Lyndon State College and God Bless.
GO HORNETS!
A full press release can be found HERE