Smith_Leadership Interview by Daniel Smith https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev Interview with Dr. Todd Pfannestiel en-us 2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC 2024-10-14 06:05:23 UTC hello@padlet.com Facing Challenges daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400882
  • Key has been surrounding himself with good teams
    • Views the Academic Affairs Office as one team, and the other Vice Presidents as another team
    • “nobody can do it on their own”
    • Leans on the expertise and knowledge of his teams
  • “No challenge is so great that I can’t find somebody to lean on”
  • Values listening and those who listen iot generate ideas
  • “Non-defeatist attitude” – there is always a solution to a problem

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400882     Desire to Lead daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400885
  • Wanted to become Dean CAES
  • After 2 years as Dean, he wanted to be the Interim Provost
  • After a year of being Interim Provost, he knew he had more to do (elsewhere)

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400885     Greatest Skills daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400886
  • Listening
  • Hearing
  • Understanding

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400886     Background daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400887
  • High academic achiever entire life
    • Skipped 2-3 grades
  • First Generation College Student
  • Graduated from Univ of Arkansas
    • Started as Journalism Major, but changed first semester
    • Majored in Economics and History
  • Attended Duke University
    • PhD in Economics – focus on Soviet Economics
    • Left after 1 year following fall of Soviet Union
  • Graduated from College of William & Mary
    • PhD in History

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400887     Insights daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400888
  • Relationships Matter
  • History Major occurred because of relationship with History Prof
  • First Adjunct Professorship occurred because of relationship between his mentor and a faculty member at Clarion University
  • Opportunity as Dean CAES came as a result of his relationship with the retiring Dean and the Provost
  • Opportunity as Interim Provost came as a result of his relationship with the outgoing Provost and President
  • Mentors were important

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400888     Safety Nets daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400891
  • Likes having “Safety Nets” in place
  • Dean CAES → could still teach as a Professor if it didn’t work out
  • Interim Provost → could go back to being the Dean if it didn’t work out
  • Provost → has it in his contract that he can teach if it doesn’t work out

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400891     Interview Conducted daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400892 When: 16 Feb (0800-0930) & 19 Feb (0800-0845)
    Where: Office of Budgets & Academic Planning, 
    Clarion University of Pennsylvania

    ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400892     Driven To daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400893
  • Make a difference for students, faculty, and staff
  • Improve the morale of faculty and staff at CUP
    • Wants people to enjoy coming to work
    • Wants people to be passionate about the University

    • ]]>     2018-02-20 17:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/233400893     Dr. Todd Pfannestiel daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234555458 Currently: Interim Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, 
    Clarion University of Pennsylvania

    Future: Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs, 
    Utica College

    ]]>     2018-02-23 02:20:13 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234555458     Validation daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234557444
  • Admits to needing validation from others
  • Students validate his ability to teach
  • Provost validated his ability to lead by making him the Dean
  • President validated his ability to lead by making him Interim Provost and then offering him permanent Provost
  • Utica College validated his abilities by selecting him as their next Provost

    • ]]>     2018-02-23 02:34:31 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234557444     Challenges at CUP daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558364
  • Budget Deficit
  • Declining Enrollment
  • Structural Challenges
    • Processes
    • Organizational
    • Morale/Loss of Civility

    • ]]>     2018-02-23 02:40:38 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558364     Challenges at Utica College daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558502
  • Perception of faculty culture problem (perceived by Administration)
  • Maintaining enrollment and budget status in “Free Tuition” state of NY
  • Growth

    • ]]>     2018-02-23 02:41:43 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558502     Success daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558678
    • “If you never remember me after I am gone”
    • Look at the university and see that it is stronger

    ]]>     2018-02-23 02:42:58 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558678     Let Go Of: daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558756
  • Low energy created by poor culture recently
  • Fear of starting over – fear of the unknown

    • ]]>     2018-02-23 02:43:37 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558756     Reflection daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558930 Dr. Pfannestiel sees the big picture and wants what is best for the institution rather than himself.
    - He clearly has opened his heart to the students and to the staff/faculty.  The success of these two groups, and the success of the University drive him.
    - As he transitions to another University, he is excited for new challenges and excited to continue his life's work...serving students and staff/faculty.
    - He is very modest, but his sense of service resonates in everything that he says and everything that he does.]]>     2018-02-23 02:45:04 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558930     Theory U Connection daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558944 Dr. Pfannestiel values listening and practices listening on the Level 3 or 4 of the U.
    - He seeks to deeply listen to and understand people.
    - He does not look for confirmation, he is looking to co-create ideas. ]]>     2018-02-23 02:45:12 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558944     Interview Lessons Learned daniel_b_smith1973 https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558988 The biggest Lesson Learned that I have is that it is difficult to let go of your biases when conducting an interview.
    - In some cases, the bias may be negative. You have to suspend your negative thoughts and open your mind and heart to the interviewee.
    - In this case, the bias was positive. I needed to open my mind and heart to deeply listen to what he was saying. This was harder than suspending a negative bias.]]>     2018-02-23 02:45:33 UTC https://padlet.com/daniel_b_smith1973/rjfsrtk1ycev/wish/234558988