Bernadette Morris, Registrar
HAB 15
SUNY New Paltz
500 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY
(845) 257-3111
morrisb@newpaltz.edu
To Whom It May Concern:
There are few occasions where I am actually honored to write a recommendation letter; this is one of those instances. I wholeheartedly support Carlton Rounds’ desire to become a member of your institution. Carlton has the intellectual acumen, knowledge and personal integrity, passion for helping others and a commitment to higher education that make him particularly valuable.
I first met Carlton in the early summer of 2007, when he was a candidate for the Assistant Director of Study Abroad for the Center for International Programs. I was a member of that search committee. I was so impressed with Carlton’s credentials and his interview that I actually sought out the Dean of the Center for International Programs so I could personally tell him why Carlton should be selected over all others. The dean is a smart man and knew from Carlton’s curricular vita and question and answer session that he was a rare find. Needless to say, New Paltz acted swiftly and Carlton was hired.
Since that time, Carlton and I have become close friends. Because he is both my friend and colleague, I am especially qualified to share my insights. Let me begin by addressing his professional competence. As the college’s registrar and an adjunct instructor, I have my fingers on the pulse of both the faculty and administration. I can attest that all agree that Carlton is a vital presence to the campus. Carlton’s is just savvy at forming connections across the campus; he skillfully has created vital linkages between the teaching faculty (in liberal arts, sciences and engineering, and the fine arts) and administration. Carlton is, above all, skilled at understanding technology and how to best leverage it to the benefit of the Center for International Programs and the college.
Simply put, Carton is a “doer”. I will list some Carlton’s greatest accomplishments; this is particularly significant because of his relatively short time at this institution:
- Infusion of service into international education at NP.
- Mentored students and faculty concerning the value of service and civic education in higher education.
- Member of steering committee for higher education role on the Brookings Institution's Bridge Building Coalition.
- Provided technological oversight and project management and transformation of study abroad office from old way to:
- Leader in SUNY for the use of technology in international education offices for applications, admissions, recruitment, social networking, and diversity outreach.
- Redesigned the study abroad space to become a center of advising excellence and a more comprehensive learning space.
- Nodal Leader for SUNY NP COIL Group, developing globally networked courses with foreign partners to increase internationalization on campus and innovative pedagogical rubrics.
- Established a new level of advising excellence with an emphasis on inclusion which has resulted in cross campus partnerships that have increased the number of under-served students substantially and provided them with record scholarship awards.
- Presented, “Best Practices for Increasing Enrollment of Diverse or Underrepresented Students for Study Abroad”, at Vice Chancellors Diversity event in NYC, 2011.
- Originator of the International Course Equivalency Database:
- Database lists the overseas programs, courses, institutional equivalents, languages of instruction, and requirements fulfilled (major, minor, general education, etc.) by the overseas course.
- A critical resource because it gives both advisors and students a tool for deciding which courses will fill requirements a student needs.
- Leader in the campaign to have a placeholder on the transcript (P*) on the transcripts for students who study abroad.
- He worked closely with records and Registration to bring this to fruition.
- EOP students have benefited greatly.
- As a result, 4 or 5 EOP students were eligible and subsequently awarded scholarships—Gilman, I believe--as a result of this move.
- Staff supervision and crisis management in time of organizational change, that is, keeping people successfully motivated building programs.
- During that same period, staff training, retention and selection.
- Implemented an orientation system that has 100% compliance after one year in position.
- Outreach to offices such as Career Resources, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Financial Aid, Records & Registration, Student Activities, and academic departments.
- Successful study abroad fairs (Success is defined as a very large turnout.)
- Outreach to American Museum of Natural History to bring science majors of color from their special program to New Paltz.
As Carlton’s record on this campus reveals, his commitment to the students and the Center for International Programs are vast. Without a doubt, precisely because of his high level of understanding the about the impact of a study abroad experience, the practical concerns of
sending a student overseas, his relentless pursuit of the excellence and his valuable contributions to Center for International Programs, Carlton has earned my respect and admiration.
For several years now, I have witnessed Carlton’s vital contributions towards making New Paltz one of the most selective schools in the SUNY system. All one has to do is look towards SUNY New Paltz’ Center for International Programs’ growing prominence on the campus and in the SUNY system to know this is true.
Perhaps one of the most critical aspects of Carlton’s style is that he shares his knowledge freely, and without an air of superiority. He does this so that students can learn to their fullest potential without the fear of adverse judgments being made about them. All one has to do is talk to one of the students he helped to know this is true. Moreover, Carlton has this same understanding with faculty members. No matter how mundane a question or concern may be Carlton takes owner of the issue and stays with it until the faculty member is satisfied.
Additionally, because Carlton and I are friends and colleagues, I know that he is constantly researching ways to bring students’ valuable overseas experiences together with the chance to practice their newly acquired skills. That is, Carlton is concerned with augmenting a student’s study abroad experience by integrating the student’s newly acquired with relevant coursework. I know as a member of this college community I will forever be grateful for his generosity of spirit.
Finally, in closing, only a few individuals have I ever commended so highly. If you opt to make Carlton a member of your institution, know that you have chosen wisely. The institution of higher education is immensely important to me. This is precisely why I advocate on Carlton’s behalf. His fairness in dealing with people is motivated by his genuine goodness. His knowledge is vast, ability and willingness to share that information innate, patience boundless and evenhandedness are all a necessity in the academic setting.
Cordially,
Bernadette Morris
