Journey Magazine 2015 | Page 11

A MESSAGE from the former Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Vince Cammarata I have had the honor and pleasure to serve as the associate dean for academic affairs in COSAM for the last three years, and now my term has come to an end. It has been both a challenging and rewarding experience in ways that I could not have fathomed three years ago. Effectively acting as the liaison between the administration, faculty, and students has been the tightrope that I walked every day. Working also with my counterparts from the other 11 schools and colleges to develop policies and procedures to better help students succeed in our college and across campus has given me great personal satisfaction. It has been my privilege to get to know so many of the best and brightest students in COSAM who, no doubt, will be the movers and shakers of tomorrow. My hope is that my efforts have edged academics in COSAM to a better position for students to flourish, and I have every confidence that it will continue to make progress. The fall 2015 COSAM freshman class has the highest ACT ever, and I believe that bodes well for the future. I wish my successor, Jack Feminella, the best of luck. Our college still faces many challenges, and I have faith he is the person to address them. As I return to my chemistry and biochemistry family, research, and teaching, my perspective is different, and, hopefully, I have grown through this experience. The transition brings me closer to my scientific roots, the students, and the reason I came to Auburn — to teach. Working with the COSAM family, including faculty, staff, alumni, and students, has been a magnificent experience right from the start. They are a caring, dedicated group who have all pitched in to make our college the exciting, energetic learning environment that it is today. I felt embraced by them right from the start, and I hold them dearly in my heart. I will miss each and every one of them. Best wishes, Vince Cammarata Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry College of Sciences and Mathematics 11