To: The St. Lawrence Community
From: William L. Fox, President
Date: December 16, 2009
Subject: Administrative Restructure with Tom Coakley’s Retirement
Late in 2008, just after I accepted the invitation to join the St. Lawrence community, Tom Coakley shared with me his plan for retirement. With characteristic conscientiousness, he agreed to stay in his position through March 1, 2010, to allow time for transition planning. Over the past few months, I have worked with Tom, and others, to alter the current administrative staffing plan for several senior administrators with additional line duties. This memo, then, will review that plan, but must first honor the incomparable work of our colleague, Tom Coakley.
As proud as he can be of his heritage as a Canton native, Tom Coakley returned to his hometown after graduating from Brown University, serving in the US Army, and earning his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1982, he joined the faculty at St. Lawrence, teaching economics. When asked to offer his skills to the administration, he accepted the position of Director of Personnel Services, then was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Business and Finance in 1987. In 1996, he was promoted again to his current role of Vice President for Administrative Operations.
So much of St. Lawrence’s progress over the past decade can be attributed to Tom’s insightful leadership. He has been the administrative coordinator for our many facilities renovation and construction projects, he has teamed with his colleagues to launch and develop the Canton Initiative, he has provided senior-level counsel to the areas of human resources, dining services, Brewer Bookstore, and auxiliary enterprises (such as the University Inn Corporation). In recent years, his has been a clear voice to advocate study and implementation of many sustainability projects. Tom also has been a well-respected representative of the University within our community, serving on both the Canton Chamber of Commerce and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president for a term.
Perhaps most importantly, Tom offers the University a humane, compassionate and reasoned sensibility when we have issues before us that require the best thinking.
Tom has agreed to continue his affiliation with St. Lawrence as a teacher and as a part-time project administrator, in ways he and I will discuss further over the next weeks. I ask you to join me in thanking Tom for 27 years as one of the University’s best.
This retirement comes at a time when all of us are looking for ways to redistribute responsibilities, maintain excellence, and save resources. I am grateful to many for their willingness to take on new duties, and therefore I have decided to eliminate the position of Vice President for Administrative Operations.
Overseeing the areas of human resources, Canton Initiative, government relations, and media relations will be Lisa Cania in a new position of Vice President for Community and Employee Relations. In these duties, Lisa will be assisted by Sue Cypert and her team, Ben Dixon, and Macreena Doyle. Lisa will work directly in the President’s Office as well, expanding her role with the Board of Trustees, maintaining her work with the Alumni Executive Council, and coordinating the public and internal activities and communication between the Office of the President and internal and external communities. Mike Archibald, for the present, will directly oversee the areas of publications and Web services.
The area of Facilities Operations will continue to be led ably by Dan Seaman, who will be a direct report to the President. Sustainability planning, with Coordinator Louise Gava, will also report to Dan Seaman, since so many of the opportunities we have for new efficiencies are in the areas of physical plant.
The Brewer Bookstore and the University Inn, as important sources of revenue for the University, will report to Vice President for Finance Kathy Mullaney, who also will oversee Campus Support Services, which coordinates contracts, compliance, Employee Health and Safety (EH&S) and risk management.
Dining Services, so integral to student satisfaction, will report to Vice President and Dean of Student Life Joe Tolliver.
I know that Lisa, Dan, Kathy and Joe will have your support as they walk new paths in their careers and take on new duties so we may save money, yet still accomplish the good work St. Lawrence deserves. Each has shown exemplary dedication to St. Lawrence and I know will give their all on our behalf.
