Richard Pizer, Ph.D., started his career as a chemistry professor 37 years ago. But don’t peg him as just another scientist who can rattle off the atomic numbers of selenium, strontium, and tellurium. He is, as his colleagues point out, a curiosity—a scientist who enjoys the arts (especially opera) and will challenge anyone on the tennis court. That’s not saying he’ll win, but he’ll give it the old college try.
Right from the start, NYIT’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs faced a tricky question—how do you create dynamic, innovative graduate centers? Pizer, who joined NYIT in August, has a three-part answer. The first is “very carefully,” the second is “by starting with content,” and the third is “together.”
“I’m not wedded to any particular administrative model,” says Pizer. “That will emerge later. First, we must identify content and interest. For the graduate centers to work, they must focus on subjects that embrace the talents of our faculty.”
A clear directive of the college’s long-range 2030 strategic plan is to break down the barriers that may inhibit interdisciplinary work. One of the report’s first steps is the creation of two graduate centers: one with a primary focus on health professions and one for other interdisciplinary programs.
Developing these graduate centers is just one of the major projects that Pizer is making a priority. But it is an area where he has some experience. Prior to joining NYIT, he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY); however, it was his work in the office of the president at CUNY’s Graduate Center that will serve as his foundation for creating NYIT’s new interdisciplinary-oriented centers.
As for his other credentials, Pizer earned a Doctor of Philosophy in chemistry from Brandeis University and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University. He was a visiting fellow at the Research School of Chemistry of the Australian National University and is a member of the American Chemical Society and Sigma Xi, an international scientific research society.
“Dr. Pizer is someone who clearly understands higher education, the uniqueness of NYIT’s history, and what is needed for this institution to meet its potential,” says Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., president of NYIT. “His expertise, ambition, and intelligence will be crucial to the realization of NYIT’s 2030 strategic plan.”
Another area Pizer is committed to is building NYIT’s research and scholarship profile. He believes that the institution should make a concerted effort to increase grants activity. “We must also emphasize greater outreach through developing strong connections with other institutions of higher learning,” he says.
During the past several months, Pizer has met with faculty members—many in their classrooms and labs. “I think when you see someone in their own environment, you get a clearer understanding of their interests and passions,” he says. |
