It’s been said that the longer a title, the more important the administrator.
However, when Rand Ziegler got his most recent promotion, he lost one word – interim.
Beginning this semester, Ziegler will move to full-time dean of the Baker University College of Arts and Sciences.
In the fall of 2005, Ziegler began a two-year commitment to fill the position after Jamie Comstock left the university the summer before.
Under Comstock, Ziegler worked for two years as associate academic dean.
“To be honest, Jamie Comstock was a pretty good mentor,” Ziegler said. “As associate dean, she allowed me to be involved in the routine things. She involved me in a lot of it, so when she left, I had a lot of familiarity with the cyclical kind of things.”
However, Ziegler said he has had to adjust to some of the unexpected tasks involved in the position.
“I felt pretty comfortable with the daily routine activities that are supposed to happen in a dean’s office. There are always crises and fires in a dean’s office,” he said. “You really can’t be totally prepared for those. Fortunately, one of the things I have for me is I’m in my 26th year at Baker.”
Ziegler came to Baker in 1981 and has since served in a number of roles, including professor of psychology, department chair, director of assessment and institutional research and even assistant coach to the football and baseball teams.
University President Pat Long said Ziegler’s promotion to full-time dean made sense with his longtime ties to Baker, serving as a mainstay among a plethora of changes being seen since the new president’s arrival in July.
“He’s already served two years as interim academic dean,” she said. “Around the table, I think we need some continuity, and he provides that. He has a long-time history. He knows Baker.”
Ziegler said his new status will give him more provisions, though he said he didn’t treat his interim position as unimportant.
“In an interim position, there’s a lot of placeholding to be done. Still, the kind of things you might move on are a bit different when you know there’s an end. Now, I’m in a position where I can move in the long term,” he said.
Ziegler said he had been contemplating taking the position permanently but wanted to gain a better insight first.
“In one year, it’s hard to learn what it is you’re going to face,” he said. “People would ask me all the time, and I didn’t want to answer until I had experienced one year of that cycle.”
Ziegler said by this year, he had a little better idea.
“I came into the second year a little wiser, prepared to learn from mistakes and better prepared to do a better job the second time around than the first time on the routine things,” he said.
After a period of conversation, Ziegler said he was asked to fill the position permanently about two months ago.
“She, toward the end of last semester, had inquired about my interest in serving beyond the two-year period, and I obviously indicated that I had some interest,” Ziegler said. “She asked if I would let her know by the beginning of this semester, and I did.”
Ziegler said he has no problems about taking the position without an official search. He said after inquiring with his fellow faculty about his work so far in the position, he felt it appropriate to accept Long’s offer.
“When she asked me for real, I felt that I had the confidence in myself and the confidence of my colleagues to take it on permanently,” Ziegler said. “It’s kind of a chance to make a difference on a broader level, especially if you have the skill set to make that difference, and I needed to learn if I had that skill set.
“I’ve had a lot of practice with the Baker community, so when the new challenges came, you use your common sense, but then you also fall back on your experience with the institution.”
Long said she’s content with the decision.
“I think Rand’s done a fine job while he’s been in the position. He’s taken on some challenging projects. He’s good with budgets. He’s very well respected,” Long said. “We need that kind of leadership here at Baker.”really can’t be totally prepared for those. Fortunately, one of the things I have for me is I’m in my 26th year at Baker.”
Ziegler came to Baker in 1981 and has since served in a number of roles, including professor of psychology, department chair, director of assessment and institutional research and even assistant coach to the football and baseball teams.
University President Pat Long said Ziegler’s promotion to full-time dean made sense with his longtime ties to Baker.
“He’s already served two years as interim academic dean,” she said. “Around the table, I think we need some continuity, and he provides that. He has a long-time history. He knows Baker.”
Ziegler said his new status will give him more provisions, though he said he took several ventures before.
“In an interim position, there’s a lot of placeholding to be done. Still, the kind of things you might move on are a bit different when you know there’s an end. Now, I’m in a position where I can move in the long term,” he said.
Ziegler said after one year in the position, he had a better idea about the job.
“I came into the second year a little wiser, prepared to learn from mistakes and better prepared to do a better job the second time around than the first time on the routine things,” he said.
Ziegler said he has no problems about taking the position without an official search. He said after inquiring with his fellow faculty about his work so far in the position, he felt it appropriate to accept Long’s offer.
“When she asked me for real, I felt that I had the confidence in myself and the confidence of my colleagues to take it on permanently,” Ziegler said. “I’ve had a lot of practice with the Baker community, so when the new challenges came, you use your common sense, but then you also fall back on your experience with the institution.”
Long said she’s content with the decision.
“I think Rand’s done a fine job while he’s been in the position. He’s taken on some challenging projects. He’s good with budgets. He’s very well respected,” Long said. “We need that kind of leadership here at Baker.”