You may have noticed that a bridge has been built between Juniper and Live Oak Halls. This new bridge is designed to create a safe, accessible pathway for individuals trying to cross what is now a silt basin for the lake. The silt basin area has been constructed with materials, including native grasses, that when mature will keep dirt and other materials from washing into the lake during heavy rains.
The bridge project was one of several improvements to improve the walkability and access at various points on the campus. For instance, concrete sidewalks were added near the rock garden at Live Oak Hall and behind the drop-off area at the Cypress Campus Center. Improvements were also made to the fire lanes at Redbud and Juniper Halls.
Along with improving the walking paths and creating the silt basin, Northwest Vista College is among three campuses to construct a thermal storage unit. The NVC thermal storage unit is in its last phase of construction and only requires network set up for remote monitoring and control before final completion.
This storage unit will help cool NVC buildings during the day. This energy is least expensive at night because fewer people are using electricity overnight, allowing CPS to turn off some of its power plants. Turning off these natural-gas fired power plants helps the city to reduce its emissions of climate change-causing-greenhouse gases and particulate matter that is harmful to human health. Finally, using the thermal storage unit reduces the stress that NVC’s chiller plant experiences during the hottest times of the day, ultimately extending the lifetime of one of the campus’ most expensive pieces of equipment.
Changing Faces
Most of you all know by now that I’m retiring at the end of August. NVC’s new president, Dr. Ric Baser, will officially assume his leadership role on Monday, August 18. This will allow him to join and lead a variety of events that open the new academic year. There will be multiple opportunities during that first week for him to meet many of you and to share with you his plans for getting to know the college over the upcoming months.
While my official retirement date is not until August 31, I will vacate the president’s office as of Aug. 15. My plan for the last couple weeks is to occupy a workstation upstairs in Manzanillo and be available to the new president as needed. I will also work on editing the SACSCOC report and wrap up other loose ends.
Diane Snyder, Alamo Colleges Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, will be interning with me at Northwest Vista through Aug. 31. Her internship fulfills a requirement of her doctoral program and, more importantly to us, provides an opportunity for her to work with our leaders and staff to identify, first hand, enrollment issues and barriers that students and employees encounter.
The E-Team members are excited to see this happening and anxious to work with Diane to support much needed improvements.
Other Retirements
Student Success’s Deanna Villarreal is saying goodbye to NVC at the end of this summer. Having started at NVC on the same day I began in 1998, she has served in many roles and has been a valuable asset to the college.
Vinnie Bradford, chair of Fine & Performing Arts and Kinesiology (FPAK), another retiree, has been a staunch supporter of the arts and has helped her staff increase the visibility of the Palmetto Center for the Arts and the fine and performing arts programs. Vinnie was a kinesiology faculty member at Palo Alto before joining the NVC team.
Terry Goddard retires in August after almost 15 years of service to students as a history faculty member.
Ray Maxey also elected to retire in August after 11 years of teaching history and geography.
Other Changes
Geography faculty Melody Crenshaw, who previously coordinated Faculty Development, left NVC to be with her husband in Virginia.
Lucy Gauna, NVC Scholarship coordinator, who had also worked in Student Success and in Community Education has left NVC to take advantage of an opportunity with the city of San Antonio.
Beth May, talented and dedicated music faculty member, left the college in May to be closer to family in New York.
Stephen Barnes is also leaving his philosophy teaching position to pursue other interests. Stephen is one of NVC’s former academic chairs.
With Us in Spirit
Of course, we will not forget Mike Munoz Sr., economics faculty, and Manuel Cerda, HR generalist, who both sadly passed away this past year and were integral members of this college and Alamo Colleges. Each will remain in our hearts and a part of the spirit of Northwest Vista.