A Faculty That Goes Above & Beyond

A Faculty That Goes Above and Beyond

BY MICHAEL SZANYI, DEAN OF FACULTY

Food and fun! These are the first things that come to mind when I think about celebrating the work of the faculty last year. Well … kind of. Resilient and hopeful also come to mind. With the ever-changing nature of the year, I think about the incredible support faculty provided to each other, to the students, and to the community. Underneath it all, there was a grounded energy that we would get through the year together.

Faculty and staff perform at Webb Jubilee

UNFORTUNATELY, RELENTLESS AND HARROWING come to mind as well. I think about the moments that seemed never ending and the toll it took on our mental wellbeing. There was the quarantining, the centennial tent, January, dusting off Zoom. There’s no getting around that it was a tough year.

Honestly, though, that’s not the article I want to write as I enter my third year as Dean of Faculty. Reliving some of those memories doesn’t quite serve us. Instead, I’d prefer to express gratitude for all the great work the faculty did last year, to authentically share the joy that they bring to Webb, and to celebrate their teaching inside the classroom and, perhaps more importantly than ever before, their expansive efforts outside of the classroom.

Dean of Campus Life Ken Rosenfeld and Ana Gutierrez at Cafe 1175 in Hooper Community Center So, like I said, in true Webb fashion, the first thing that comes to mind is food!

For example, I think of Nika Haleftiras who put together dorm family time with special dinner nights. With students volunteering to help cook, they made lasagna together, rolled meatballs, baked brownies, and formed assembly lines to carry items down from Nika’s house to the Alamo. Or, I think of Esteban Vasquez, who believes in learning through your stomach. In class they had sweet bread and coffee, different types of tamales, and traditional Mexican hot chocolate, all while developing cultural awareness and understanding the cultural impact of these foods. Or, I think of Anthony Flucker, who wanted to do something special with his advisory. They took turns making traditional Chinese

food together and sharing stories about their families, reflecting on how beautiful it can be to share a meal together in this way.

It’s not just food though. It’s also the fun, especially in the exploration of the world around us!

For example, I think of Joseph Vincent, who was doing a mini unit on Chinese religions. After reading some simplified texts, the class went to the Williamson Gallery at Scripps College to look at Daoist and Confucian paintings where they were able to speak about form and content in expressive and nuanced ways. Or, I think about Susanna Linsley, who led a successful Unbounded Days right at the end of the Omicron wave. For many students, it was the first time they took a train downtown, visited Los Angeles, or went to a museum. For other students, it was the first time they had been to a restaurant in two years. And still for others doing a more outdoorsy course, they were thankful for the opportunity to challenge their bodies and for the happiness that being outside can bring. Or, I think of Andrew Neyer, whose golf team trip to Catalina to play Avalon couldn't be overnight, but they still made it a fun trip by adjusting their ferry ride home so the kids could play in the ocean after their match. And they loved it! matter the external constraints, the faculty are always innovative in creating a community that can truly cherish being with one another.

Of course, there is so much more I could mention. The Junior Scholars Program. The Halloween chalk drawing at Jones. The dance show. The creative writing students doing a roundtable dramatic reading of Act III of The Ferryman on the quad. For every one of these, there are many more to get mentioned.

So, how do we fully express gratitude for all the great work the faculty did last year?

The faculty got to the heart of who we are, reimagined the priorities of the classroom space, committed to process, empowered students, helped graduate the centennial class … for all of that and so much more, with the sincerest appreciation, I can say this: thank you for making us Webb!

World Languages teacher and Coach of the Year Malick Mbengue with the state championship-winning VWS varsity soccer team

All these seemingly simple moments remind us why we love Webb, but perhaps more importantly in this moment, I think they remind us why we are so thankful for the work of the faculty. They are a special group that helps to create the magic of this place. Sometimes it’s through food, and sometimes it’s through fun. But no

Faculty during Theme Week 2021

Dean of Faculty and Dance Company Director Michale Szanyi with the dance team before the winter dance performance, Centum