Meet the New Student Affairs Deans

Tuesday December 8, 2009

Hosted byThe CC/SEAS Division of Student AffairsThe Columbia College Student Council

The Engineering Student Council

Dean of Financial Aid

Daniel Barkowitz

Dean of Community Development and Multicultural Affairs

Theresa Martinez

Dean of the Center for Student Advising

Monique RinereWELC

OM

E!

Daniel Barkowitz

Dean of Financial Aid

Dean Barkowitz

More than 20 years of experience in higher education and financial aid.

As Director of Student Financial Aid and Employment at MIT, he developed innovative ways of looking at need analysis.

Dean Barkowitz is also a writer and has published a book of poetry called Talking to Myself: Poetry from Now and Then.

Theresa Martinez

Dean of Community Development and Multicultural Affairs

Dean Martinez

More than 20 years of experience in Student Affairs. Served as Dean of Experiential Learning at Wells College, as well as Director of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs at Ithaca College.

Also served as consultant for numerous not-for-profit organizations.

Named one of the “20 Most Outstanding Women You Should Know” by the Cayuga Radio Group in 2007.

Monique Rinere

Dean of the Center of Student Advising

Dean Rinere

BA in German and Music, Hunter College

PhD in German Languages and Literature, Princeton University

Nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, including positions at Harvard University and Princeton University.

Specialist in creating and implementing advising systems.

In her free time, Dean Rinere enjoys spending time with her dog.

She is also working on a comfort food cookbook.

Main Projects, Issues

Major projects, ideas, or initiatives? Issues or causes most excited to pursue at Columbia?

Dean Barkowitz: Financial Aid

Current Projects, Ideas, Initiatives

Brand-new computer system to improve ability to reach out to students and applicants, and allow for more contact and better opportunities for self-service

Transparency through social media

Issues/Causes Most Excited About Pursuing

Continuing to provide financial assistance for students to attend Columbia

Financial literacy

Awareness of the experiences of students from different socio-economic backgrounds

Dean Martinez: Community Development & Multicultural Affairs

Current Projects, Ideas, Initiatives

Meet with many individuals, listen to concerns and issues, and understand what works well before deciding which initiatives to implement

Mechanism to informally meet with students in small groups beginning next semester

Issues/Causes Most Excited About Pursuing

Communication

Using technology to connect with students

Dean Rinere: Advising

Current Projects, Ideas, Initiatives

Community Conversations on Advising to collect thoughts on advising for a publication that will set expectations going forward

Creation of the new space

Development of assessment instruments

Issues/Causes Most Excited About Pursuing

Having these conversations in the community. I have had the best conversations about advising EVER with Columbia students!

Helping to create the new CSA

Fun Facts & PicturesUp Close & Personal.

Dean Rinere Costumed as Hippie

Favorite Spot at Columbia?

Dean Martinez: I have two – Low Library and John Jay Lounge.

Favorite Spot at Columbia?

Dean Rinere: My office! Where else!??! And other than that, the steps of Low Library.

Favorite Spot at Columbia?

Dean Barkowitz:Other than my office? I love Low Library (especially under the rotunda) and I am a particular fan of the gardens between Avery and Fayerweather.

Dean Barkowitz & Family

Favorite Place in NYC?

Dean Martinez: Central Park. It’s an amazing haven amidst the concrete.

Favorite Place in NYC?

Dean Rinere: My office! Where else!??! Other than that, Riverside Park, MoMA, Carnegie Hall, Staten Island Ferry, and jazz clubs.

Favorite Place in NYC?

Dean Barkowitz:The Great Hall at Ellis Island. I love the grandeur of the space and can picture how beautiful, inspiring, and terrifying the space must have been to my ancestors when they first set foot in the coutnry just over 100 years ago.

Dean Rinere & Her Dog

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Dean Martinez: A news broadcaster. I remember sitting at the kitchen table and would read the newspaper out loud!

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Dean Rinere: A brain surgeon.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Dean Barkowitz:Obvious: a Broadway superstar (are auditions coming soon?).

Dean Rinere

Hobbies / Interests?

Dean Martinez: Cooking, running, reading, gardening, watching basketball.

Hobbies / Interests?

Dean Rinere: Love walking, hiking, movies, dancing, traveling, cooking, dogs, and the conundrums in advising.

Hobbies / Interests?

Dean Barkowitz:Writing poetry, singing, reading science-fiction, my family…

Dean Barkowitz on a Camel

What is something students might not know about you?

Dean Martinez: I’m originally from the Bronx, so coming to Columbia is a great homecoming.

What is something students might not know about you?

Dean Rinere: I originally wanted to be a brain surgeon but then decided to become a music performance major! I played harpsichord.

What is something students might not know about you?

Dean Barkowitz:I was born in the Panama Canal Zone and lived there until I was 14 years old. I was married as a sophomore in college, but waited until 6 years after graduation to have my first child. At this point, my family is still living in Boston and I commute to Columbia each week; we hope to relocate this coming summer.