Professor, Master Named to Student Affairs Position

Professor, Master Named to Student Affairs Position

BY DAVID KAPLAN
Rice News Staff

As if teaching chemistry and mastering at Wiess College were not enough, John Hutchinson now has two more jobs.

Hutchinson, associate professor of chemistry, has been named assistant vice president for student affairs and director of academic advising. He will work in the new positions part time to allow him to remain on the faculty of the chemistry department.

"I expect that the two activities will reinforce each other," Hutchinson says. "Being master at Wiess made me a better teacher because I know my students better, and it should be the same with student affairs. And my teaching experience will enhance my life in student affairs."

As assistant vice president for student affairs, Hutchinson is responsible for personnel decisions. He also will handle special projects and advise Zenaido Camacho, vice president for student affairs, on day-to-day decisions and serve as an advocate for the student affairs team.

One way in which his faculty experience will clearly come to bear is in academic advising, Hutchinson believes. He notes that Rice is unique in placing responsibility of academic advising on faculty.

Hutchinson will replace Mark Scheid, who was named as assistant to the president in November. Scheid continues to oversee international education and scholarship programs.

Hutchinson says he agreed to assume the new position for two reasons: "I’m deeply interested in student affairs and student life issues and want to continue after mastering is over." He is finishing his sixth year at Wiess College with one year remaining. "My wife [Paula Hutchinson] and I both say it’s been the best experience of our lives," he says.

The other reason Hutchinson took the job was for the chance to work with Camacho. "It is really a unique privilege," Hutchinson says. "I view this as an opportunity to learn from him and his incredibly effective leadership style. To learn from the master—that made it an opportunity I couldn’t turn down."

Camacho says Hutchinson brings many talents to the position, including "understanding the role of the college master, expertise in academic advising, knowledge of our curriculum and experience in teaching. Coupled with his understanding and love for students," Camacho says, "he will bring more depth and breadth to student affairs."

Wiess College senior Robert Lundin says he feels lucky to have had Hutchinson as a master because "he has been so willing and able to make my experience at Rice the best it can be. Now, so many more students will be getting that same kind of support."

"The amount of energy he expends for students is amazing," Lundin says. "He gives everything he has. I have no doubt he’ll bring that same attitude to his job in student affairs."

Says Anne Countiss, Hanszen College senior and outgoing Student Association president, "Dr. Hutchinson will perform well in his new job because he sincerely cares about Rice students. We are lucky to have someone who has dedicated so much of his time to improving campus life."

At convocation, Hutchinson will receive the 2000 Student Association Mentor Award, which goes to one member of the Rice community annually in recognition of extraordinary service to the student body.

He is winner of numerous teaching awards, including the 1996 Piper Professor, Class of 1998 Outstanding Faculty Award, George R. Brown Award for Teaching Excellence (’97), George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching (’94, ’96, ’98), Nicolas Salgo Distinguished Teacher Award (’88, ’95) and Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize (’87).

With his unique combination of professional responsibilities, Hutchinson says he hopes he can provide "a bridge between the nonacademic and academic components of a student’s Rice experience."

It will allow him to do more of what he loves best at Rice: interact with Rice students, an experience he describes as "wonderfully rewarding, exciting, educational and invigorating. I think working with students has kept me young physically, emotionally and spiritually."