RWC Welcomes New Dean

The University of Cincinnati's Raymond Walters College welcomes Dolores Straker as the new Dean of the college.

Straker begins her tenure at RWC this fall after five years as the University Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the City University of New York (CUNY). There, she created and implemented policy and procedures for the university's higher education opportunity programs, the writing across the curriculum initiative and the Coordinated Freshman Year Programs. These programs provide over 20,000 students with academic support services and pre-college experiences. She also oversaw a combined budget of $28 million, developed and monitored individual college program budgets and retention strategies, provided faculty and staff development and more.

For the last four years, Straker has served as the CUNY Chancellor's designee on the Board of Directors for the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. For over 12 years, she was a board member of the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs in Higher Education representing CUNY and New York State.

Prior to her time as University Associate Dean with CUNY, Straker spent many years with York College, a branch of the CUNY system in Jamaica, NY.

Straker's impressive resume includes positions as a teacher and administrator, a lecturer and project coordinator, and a consultant and published writer.

She is dedicated to language education, saying that it has always been important to her that students expand their written and verbal skills to enhance their ability to communicate and better prepare them for life beyond their degree.  Straker also believes that empowering students, staff, and faculty is the best way to be a leader.

"In my previous roles, my goals were to instill confidence in students so they perceived themselves as successful learners," says Straker.   "I also focused on empowering faculty and staff so that they could best accomplish their roles as teachers or administrators. It is important to create a nurturing atmosphere in which faculty and staff can develop, as well as create the same for student learning."

"I look forward to continuing the student-focused tradition that Raymond Walters College is known for. Through a shared vision, we as a community will celebrate the many accomplishments of the past while we fully explore the rich potential of our future," she added.

RWC is located on Plainfield Road in Blue Ash, and offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs to 4,000 traditional and non-traditional students each year.