University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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Susan T. Peters, Associate Dean of Student Personnel The saying around campus about students who party too much is that they ' re on the five-year plan. Susan T. Peters came to U.M. as a freshman in 1 9 71 . That places her on the ten-year plan and still counting. However, the cause of this phenomenon is not excessive partying, but rather a genuine love for the University of Miami. Ms. Peters, commonly known as Dean Sue , received her bachelor of education in 1 975 and now is the Associate Dean of Student Personnel. The main part of her job consists of major disciplinary investigation and hearings for the 1 1 ,000 member undergraduate student body. These hearings and investigations are something she really enjoys doing. I love working with students, being able to influence them in a positive manner. Discipline is the major part of her job but some of her other activities revolve around her various positions such as: Advisor to Panhellenic Council, National Executive Director of Rho Lambda, and president of the Miami Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority Alumnae Association. She also works with the: University Wellness Task Force, Womens Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, and Student Life Calender Committee. Dean Peters enjoys the contact she has with a broad range of students. Dean Sue feels the most important things a student can leave the university with are a better understanding of people and a better awareness of onesself . Dean Sue sees one of her better qualities as enthusiasm. I ' ve been at the university for ten years in various positions and I ' ve been enthusiastic about the work involved in each of them. Her job related goals include putting a stop to vandalism, doubling the number of girls in sororities, promoting Greek Unity, and promoting the Wellness Task Force. Eventually she would like to get a Ph. D. in higher education or go to law school. However, she feels there ' s no need to rush into these things — I still have plenty of time. By Ruth Kamlot Student Affairs 23

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Maureen Short, Associate Dean of Students Maureen Short was born in Rochester, New York. In upstate New York, she attended the State University College at Genesco, where she majored in Speech Pathology and Audiology. While at Genesco, Maureen was a resident assistant for the Mathematics and Science dormitory. She enjoyed being an R.A. and her experience paved the way to what she would be doing in the future. In addition to being an R.A. , Maureen worked a number of jobs [three to four) at a time in order to put herself through college. In 1 9 76, this truly exceptional lady acquired her masters degree in Education at the University of Miami. She was then hired as the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Development Programs. Then, in 1 9 79, Maureen became the Associate Dean of Students. Presently, Short is involved in a number of programs at the University. Among these, the Leadership Training Program is a very popular. Participants in this go on a workshop for leadership. One must apply in order to be selected. Acceptance is based on past leadership experience, future aspirations and current involvement on campus. There is also another program, which is less intense, the Human Potential Seminar. Short ' s main goal in preparing these communication seminars is to improve assertiveness and decision-making. She lets the participants actually run the program, and acts as an overseer. You need a special personality to sit back and watch your own program develop . . . and the students as individuals develop. Mo relates to her students at their level, as a friend and yet receives a certain respect from the students due to the fact that she has so much to offer them. Maureen says that she really enjoys her job. It provides a variety of challenges and responsibilities. Short is also the editor of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and the Hurricane Watch, a newsletter that is sent to parents to keep them informed about U.M. happenings. In addition to all this, Maureen finds time to teach two courses on campus: Interpersonal Communication and the Psychology of University Adjustment, PSY 1 OO. This course was established through the Dean of Students office by Short, and the Department of Psychology to provide entering freshmen with theory and skills which could enable them to adjust more easily to campus life. Short says that her job as Associate Dean of Students requires a large amount of student contact. From the students ' feedback, she designs programs to meet their specific needs. When Mo began to work at the University, she said that she wanted to help enrich the college experience as she had been enriched. It is clear that Maureen Short has definitely added to the lives of students at the University of Miami. By Nora Leon 22 Student Affairs Km

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Jerry E. Houston, Assistant to the Dean of Students Jerry E. Houston, assistant to the Dean of Students, is an active administrator, but more importantly he is a concerned educator. He is concerned with the tragedy of today ' s education and is chanelling that concern through programs and organizations such as: the student tutoring service, Student Orientation Service, United Black Students, the Presidental Breakfast Series, Speakeasies, and the Last Lecture Series . He feels that today ' s student should leave the university with an understanding of how a complex system, such as the real working world , actually functions. He emphasizes his sadness for the disillusioned student, who has no realistic concept of life outside of the university. The Dean of Students office offers various programs to complement the academic classroom experience for under-graduate students. These programs help to get the student involved in activities to help prepare them for life on and off the university campus. Dean Houston was involved as a student at the University and encourages such involvement in every student, be it greek life, McGinley academic, or social organizations. While a student here at the university, he was active in organizations such as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Intramural Boxing, Miami Black Arts, and United Black Students. In fact, when ten students were taken to jail for a sit-in, lay-in at the Ashe Building Dean Houston was among them. Dutside the university, Dean Houston is your everyday normal person. He has been happily married to his best friend , Dheryl for five years and has no intention of altering this state of bliss. His talents are many; not only is he a devoted husband, but he ' s also an accomplished artist and carpenter. The position of Assistant to the Dean of Students requires a person who is open-minded, empathetic, and a good listener. Jerry Houston possesses all of these qualities and more; he has the ability, through a unique mixture of informality and respect, to make a student feel totally at ease when conversing with him. In essence, Jerry Houston is, and always will be, a true friend to the student. By Lisa Mar-ion 24 Student Affairs