The ordeal that ensued within the Office of International Affairs after Provost Linda Brady dismissed two long-standing directors was unnecessary and unfortunate. University administrators acted too quickly and, as Brady later acknowledged, did not have a full understanding of the situation. But Brady has also made a sincere effort to remedy the misjudgment, and the effectiveness of that effort should be acknowledged.
Special Assistant to the President and Provost Lorraine Davis, whom Brady charged with completing two comprehensive reports examining the dismissals and the overall management of International Affairs, did a thorough job. Her dozens of interviews and thoughtful consideration ultimately resulted in Brady’s decision to reinstate Kathy Poole, director of Study Abroad Programs, and Magid Shirzadegan, director of International Student and Scholar Services. The second report, which dealt with management within the office, resulted in Vice Provost of International Affairs and Outreach Chunsheng Zhang leaving International Affairs and taking a position in Johnson Hall, where his outreach skills will be better suited. Additionally, the office’s senior financial officer will leave the office. Presumably bringing new leadership to the financial unit will usher along its recovery.
The January dismissals led to an outcry from students and alumni both inside and outside America, and those who felt angry and confused did not go unheard. Their letters and visits to University administrators played a large part in the directors’ reinstatements. Several of them said they felt the trust between international students and the administration had been broken.
In an interview following the second report’s release, Provost Brady said the biggest lesson she learned from the events within the Office of International Affairs is the importance of carefully considering decisions involving personnel and taking the appropriate amount of time to work through those issues.
“There is always a sense of urgency that we need to make decisions quickly,” Brady said. “While understanding the need to move forward, I also understand the importance of carefully considering decisions.”
The damage that was done during the past three and a half months on the part of the administration will be difficult to fully repair. Some International Affairs staff will probably harbor resentment toward administrators, and that is understandable. But the best thing for staff, administrators and the students International Affairs serves would be for everyone to just move on.
Brady’s rescindment of her decision and the other actions she took to improve the climate of the International Affairs office are admirable. While the University community should have expected nothing less of Brady, she and other administrators could have just as easily brushed the issue aside instead of re-examining the situation and re-evaluating whether the decision was the right one.
The University administration held itself accountable for its errors in judgment. Hopefully, the lessons learned prevent similar situations in the future, and this instance sets a precedent for correction when administrators make mistakes.
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