By JENN PROFFITT, BEN FARRAR
Foreign Correspondent, Contributing Writer
“It is an institution of an intriguing collection of contraries,” said Elizabeth Stroble, president of Webster University, during a talk held at WU’s London campus. “On one hand Webster is a small university … (and yet) we are global.”
Stroble made her first international visit Nov. 17, after being named president in July. She arrived Sunday, Nov. 15, and saw much of the campus in her two-day visit. The talk on Nov. 17, was her last engagement in London before heading back to St. Louis the following day. It gave London students and staff a chance to ask their new president questions about the future of the university and her impressions so far.
“Two days doesn’t do justice to learn all the things I need to learn,” Stroble said.
The London visit was her second to the extended campuses, having gone to Orlando, Fla. three weekends ago.
Stroble referenced the U.K. Food Network show “Chopped,” as the way she views juggling the different demands of so many diverse campuses and colleges.
“Combining them (the different aspects of Webster) all in one basket is the secret to our banquet,” Stroble said.
Stroble said these “ingredients” mirror an ever-growing global world. Stroble went on to say people should welcome the contraries of our lives and reflect on what light they shed on our goals.
“Think of Webster as your global test kitchen, we want you to feel prepared,” said Stroble before opening the floor to questions.
Some of the questions Stroble addressed involved becoming a global citizen, one of the goals outlined in the 2020 Vision released last year, and Valerie Kaneko-Lucas, head of Regent’s American College London, posed the question of what exactly global citizenship entails.
“One of the activities (that we have done in the Faculty Senate) is what does it mean to be a Global Citizen,” Stroble said.
Stroble then turned the question over to Bill Lynch, the newly-appointed WU resident director of London and former Faculty Senate president, to outline some of the plans discussed.
“(We are working on) synthesizing undergraduate studies and general education so that it can be specific, meaningful and relevant to students today,” Lynch said.
Lynch said the Senate has analyzed the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ essential learning outcomes and modified them to fit WU and the idea of becoming a global citizen. While Stroble’s visit was a good way for her to get to know the international campuses, it also coincided with Lynch’s arrival in London, who replaces David Parrish as resident director.
“(I’m) getting involved with the changing of the guard, so to speak,” Stroble said.
Lynch will arrive in London in January to fully take over his position as director for the spring semester.
“I visited the campus at the end of the summer in August, which was during the final interview stages for this position,” Lynch said. “Upon my return … Dr. Stroble announced that I had earned the position.”
While Lynch has not fully assumed his role as director, he already has plans for what he will do once he arrives.
“My first plan is to learn about what’s going on, interact with the students, the faculty who deliver the courses, discover how this dynamic partnership works, collaborate with my colleagues and transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence,” Lynch said.
Another plan Lynch has is getting WU involved with the London School of Film, Media and Performance (LSFMP).
“My hope is with my background in the arts and knowledge of St. Louis’ program that I can provide much assistance,” Lynch said.
He said he has already started getting involved with the LSFMP and that there are many exciting plans in the works.
Lynch said he feels his experience in acting will help him in his role as resident director since an actor is expected to speak, but a more experienced actor listens even better.
“As an actor, it’s not difficult to see something from someone else’s point of view,” Lynch said.
Lynch is not anticipating his move to London to be difficult, but as exciting.
While Lynch will begin to settle into his role as resident director in the London campus, Stroble will explore the other campuses. Her goal is to see one extended U.S. campus and one international campus a semester.
“There are 116 sites all over the world,” Stroble said. “It would take a lifetime to see all of those.”
For right now, Stroble wants to focus on finding her place within the campus.
“(A) new administration feels the need to map out the territory and figure out what’s next, but first we have to figure out what’s on the map,” she said. “Six months from now, I’ll know a lot more than I know now.”
