Women lead many of the departments at Andrews University. Can you name some of them? This Women’s History Month, we will highlight a few female department chairs, their contributions to Andrews University, and their words of wisdom.
Barbara Harrison, chair of the Nursing Department, has been chair since 2020. Her main responsibilities include supporting students and coordinating with the other teachers to ensure that the department runs smoothly. One of the biggest challenges, Harrison says, is with time. “For somebody who likes to be goal-oriented and check off things to be done, the role of chair doesn’t allow that luxury because work is never done,” she says. Throughout her time in the department, she is most proud of being able to interact with students and student leaders to make changes. They have been able to split a 3-hour class into 2, making it easier for students. She also likes how they have allowed for Marsh Hall to be open outside of class hours for students to come in and study. One of the biggest pieces of advice she gave was for other teachers and students to look past their current states. Harrison has plaques in her office from her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades in school as a reminder that she is training future experts in the field. She says that sometimes we look at students in their current states and don’t see what they are going to become. “This is where they are right now, but one day they’re going to be something great,” she says.
Stephanie Carpenter, History and Political Science Department chair, has been chair for nine years. In such a department, she does just about everything, including resolving conflict, making notes, creating schedules, leading the other teachers, and keeping a handle on everything happening in the department. Time and money are the biggest challenges in her position. “It would be nice to have a 30-hour day,” she says. The department size has decreased over the years because “people might not see the advantage of what the major will do for them long term and with a small number of faculty,” Carpenter says. She is proud to see how students who come through the department have taken their degrees and moved elsewhere. “They have gone on to graduate programs at top universities. How far students get is my biggest achievement,” she says. Carpenter advises students to take their first years of college seriously and to be conscious of their grades and end results to graduate. Carpenter intended only to be a professor at Andrews University, but God had other plans. She believes that “the best chairs and leaders are those who come to it without meaning to come to it.”
Lynelle Weldon, the Mathematics Department chair, has been in the Mathematics Department for 27 years and has been chair for eight years. Her main responsibilities are vast, including leading the department in planning, visioning, supporting the faculty, setting meeting agendas, leading in department hiring processes, and being the representative for the department. Weldon finds it difficult in her position to communicate decisions from the administration when the basis or process of the decision is unclear. She enjoys working with others who are committed to caring for and teaching students, supporting the department, and seeking a relationship with God. Weldon is most proud of her ability to protect faculty in her position. “I am convinced that speaking up or acting at various times on their behalf made a positive difference in outcomes,” she says. For advice, Weldon advises people to be themselves. “Listen for God’s calling and follow faithfully and prayerfully–whether this meets society’s expectations/stereotypes or not,” she says. “Focus on making a difference within your responsibilities and sphere of influence—rather than complaining about areas you have limited knowledge in and no influence in.”
Vanessa Corredera, English Department chair, has been with the Andrews English Department for 11 years, and has been chair for four years. Her job consists of typical administrative responsibilities, representing the department across the campus, and faculty development. She does a lot of “walk and talk meetings” with colleagues. One of Corredera’s biggest challenges as chair is the fact that she is pulled in a lot of different directions. She wonders how well she is doing all aspects of her job with so much on her plate. She is very proud of how far the English Department has come over the years in terms of membership, finances, and student and staff achievements. Corredera advises young women to not be afraid to lead and for those who are or will be leaders to “do it ethically. You can achieve success and be lonely if you don’t do it in an ethical way [...] and you’ll have more support if things get bumpy from how you came to that leadership,” she says.
Heather Ferguson, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (speech-language pathology & audiology) chair, has been chair for 11 years. Her job consists of supporting faculty and students in their journeys. She says that one of the biggest challenges in her position is not having enough time to do all the things that are required of her. Ferguson enjoys watching students “be successful, finish degrees, and finish strong.” She also is proud of the other faculty members, who are all on their own journeys. Ferguson advises students to focus on how they are going to do a task, rather than letting the task overwhelm them into thinking they can’t complete it. “You don’t have to do it all yourself,” she says.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.