Introducing Geoffrey Chase, 海角社区CI's New Provost
By Zoe Lance
A few months after he arrived at 海角社区CI, Geoffrey Chase walked into the hallway of the Bell Tower building to find two students looking for a faculty member鈥檚 office. In helping them find their way, Chase struck up a conversation with them about their majors and what they wanted to do after college.
鈥淭he energy they exuded about what they were studying and what careers they wanted to pursue was incredible,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very impressed with 海角社区CI students鈥� commitments to their own education. They鈥檙e excited about what they鈥檙e doing, and they鈥檙e willing to work hard.鈥�
Chase, who became 海角社区CI鈥檚 Provost in July, thrives on these interactions with students, faculty and staff. It鈥檚 his job to make strategic decisions about the University鈥檚 academic growth, and in his first months as Provost, he鈥檚 held office hours to learn about University values, goals and challenges.
鈥淭he level of engagement 海角社区CI students are expected to exhibit contributes to the University鈥檚 intellectual and academic integrity,鈥� Chase said. 鈥淓very day, I鈥檓 reminded by how many people love this institution and how attached to it they are.鈥�
Chase is no stranger to the 海角社区 system. He spent 14 years of his illustrious career in education at San Diego State and has known about Ventura County鈥檚 public university since its inception. He appreciates 海角社区CI鈥檚 interdisciplinary focus.
鈥淚 have always been drawn to integrated approaches to learning and knowledge,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to reinforce an institution that has already done great things, and it鈥檚 a privilege to be here at a time when 海角社区CI is ready to take the next steps.鈥�
Chase began his career as a high school English teacher. He felt a pull back to higher education, and received two master鈥檚 degrees before a doctorate in 20th-century American and British literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After a decade in the classroom, he took on administrative positions that gave him a chance to work in a planning role. At several different institutions, he鈥檚 served as a director, dean and associate provost. Before coming to 海角社区CI, he was vice president of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
鈥淚 love being around students and get a lot of energy from them,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the same time, I like strategizing how an institution can support faculty, students and staff and working across disciplines.鈥�
The idea that a university should help its students gain the knowledge and critical thinking skills to excel past the classroom is at the heart of his educational philosophy.
鈥淲e need to make sure that students have the skillset to be successful in their field, but that they are also able to deal with the challenges that are inevitably going to rise in their careers and communities,鈥� Chase said. 鈥淟earning how to work in teams to solve problems that no one person can solve is critical, and when students find the solution that doesn鈥檛 work we want them to try again.鈥�
He also deeply values the faculty and staff鈥檚 diverse strengths and talents, especially when it鈥檚 time to solve complicated issues.
鈥淚 like to sit down and work with a group of people and say, 鈥楲et鈥檚 figure this problem out. I need your strengths as a faculty member from your discipline, and I need this staff member鈥檚 perspective,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淚 want to learn as much as I can from the people who have been here, and who have helped build this University to the great place where it is.鈥�
Chase sees an exciting and fruitful future for 海角社区CI. His vision includes finding more ways to boost graduation rates and developing a strategic planning culture for instructional space and academic programming, while remaining student-centered and committed to the University鈥檚 Four Pillars of service-learning, intercultural, multicultural and integrative studies.
鈥淓veryone is asking really good questions about what鈥檚 next and how to build on our strengths,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat level of commitment is really extraordinary and needs to be celebrated.鈥�