Staff Advisory Council
College of Food, Agricultural,
and Environmental Sciences
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Staff Advisory Council Announces Dean Newcomb as Sponsor

By Cathy Zirkle and Becky Hooper

The College's Staff Advisory Council (SAC) named Senior Associate Dean L.H. Newcomb as its sponsor at a regular council meeting on July 21.

Initiated by a Sponsor Task Force composed of council members Becky Hooper,

Christine Nielsen, Pat Patterson and Regina Vann, Dean Newcomb was invited to officially serve as the council's connection to college administration. The task force drafted a list of expectations regarding the sponsor's relationship to the council, including serving as a direct communication link between the council and administration, meeting quarterly with the council's executive team, being involved with council meetings and approving and providing council financial support. Council officers Thad Welch (Chair), Becky Hooper (Secretary/Treasurer) and Cathy Zirkle (Communications Director), met with Dean Newcomb to present sponsor objectives, review council goals and accomplishments and extend an invitation to attend July's SAC meeting.

"The College is looking for a vision from this Council," stated Dean Newcomb as he addressed SAC members in the Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering conference room on the Columbus campus. Praising council members for progress accomplished during their first year, Newcomb also cautioned against discouragement: "You are the pioneers and there will be disappointments and frustrations. Learn to be patient because progress will not go as fast as you want. In the beginning, maintenance is getting the job done. " Newcomb noted that college administration is looking to the Council to help change the culture of the college by making staff more knowledgeable, more involved and more appreciated for their contributions. He advised the council to find a vision to pull the organization forward, not to get bogged down in minutia, to collaborate, to come up with things that matter, to give the Cabinet broad and clear advice and to build consensus.

In August, SAC members retreated to Malabar Farm for a day, reviewing task force missions and deadlines and enjoying a potluck lunch in Pugh Cabin. SAC members will hold their annual organizational and kick-off meeting on September 15 at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café in Columbus.