Meet your Professor: Interview with Kimmo Rosenthal
Erica Fugger
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Features
Where did you grow up?
I was born in the Bronx and then moved to Buffalo, New York. When my father passed away I moved to Finland for three and a half years, and then moved back to Buffalo for my formative years.
Do you have any specific interests or hobbies?
I like reading, working on the NY Times Crossword (Thurs-Sat only), writing, playing the tenor sax, and playing squash.
What is your favorite place in the world to vacation?
Paris. Went there with my wife and we will go again.
How long have you been a professor at Union College?
I am starting my 30th year at the College. I spent 8 of those (2000-2008) as the Dean of Studies.
What brought you to work at Union College?
I always wanted to work at a small liberal arts college. I came here in 1979 and absolutely loved the math department…still do!!
What is or has been your favorite class to teach at Union?
Whatever I happen to be teaching. Overall, I like teaching introductory level courses to non-majors and Preceptorial.
What is your impression of the Union student body?
I am very fond of the Union student body. The thing I miss about being Dean is interacting with or helping more students. Union students are hard-working, sincere, and very likeable.
What improvements do you think can be made at this school?
Union is really a great place, but there is always room for improvement.
There has been an unfortunate increase in hierarchy and bureaucracy, resulting in a lack of openness and consultation; examples might be the budget or the so-called Strategic Plan.
I am reminded of the Central Registry in Saramago's All the Names, with most of us being lowly clerks like Senhor Jose. Excessive reliance on protocol and procedures is unimaginative, stifles innovative thinking, and can lead to stagnation, apathy, and unfairness. At the risk of sounding prosaic, the boat will not move forward if people are discouraged from putting their oars in the water.
Union would benefit from less playing it close to the vest, more openness, a freer flow of "spin-free" information, and a message that knowledge and capabilities are valued, as opposed to status in the Central Registry.
What advice would you like to give to Union College students?
I would encourage them to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that Union offers and to push and challenge themselves. There are things you can do here that you will not have the chance to do again, so go for it!
The professor who will be interviewed for next week's "Meet your professor" is Professor Darius Watson from the Union Political Science Department.
I was born in the Bronx and then moved to Buffalo, New York. When my father passed away I moved to Finland for three and a half years, and then moved back to Buffalo for my formative years.
Do you have any specific interests or hobbies?
I like reading, working on the NY Times Crossword (Thurs-Sat only), writing, playing the tenor sax, and playing squash.
What is your favorite place in the world to vacation?
Paris. Went there with my wife and we will go again.
How long have you been a professor at Union College?
I am starting my 30th year at the College. I spent 8 of those (2000-2008) as the Dean of Studies.
What brought you to work at Union College?
I always wanted to work at a small liberal arts college. I came here in 1979 and absolutely loved the math department…still do!!
What is or has been your favorite class to teach at Union?
Whatever I happen to be teaching. Overall, I like teaching introductory level courses to non-majors and Preceptorial.
What is your impression of the Union student body?
I am very fond of the Union student body. The thing I miss about being Dean is interacting with or helping more students. Union students are hard-working, sincere, and very likeable.
What improvements do you think can be made at this school?
Union is really a great place, but there is always room for improvement.
There has been an unfortunate increase in hierarchy and bureaucracy, resulting in a lack of openness and consultation; examples might be the budget or the so-called Strategic Plan.
I am reminded of the Central Registry in Saramago's All the Names, with most of us being lowly clerks like Senhor Jose. Excessive reliance on protocol and procedures is unimaginative, stifles innovative thinking, and can lead to stagnation, apathy, and unfairness. At the risk of sounding prosaic, the boat will not move forward if people are discouraged from putting their oars in the water.
Union would benefit from less playing it close to the vest, more openness, a freer flow of "spin-free" information, and a message that knowledge and capabilities are valued, as opposed to status in the Central Registry.
What advice would you like to give to Union College students?
I would encourage them to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that Union offers and to push and challenge themselves. There are things you can do here that you will not have the chance to do again, so go for it!
The professor who will be interviewed for next week's "Meet your professor" is Professor Darius Watson from the Union Political Science Department.
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