President Michael H. Schill and Provost Patrick Phillips welcomed new faculty members to the University of Oregon this week at the 2019 onboarding event.

The Knight Library Browsing Room buzzed as incoming career and tenure-track faculty members assembled for their formal introduction to the university. The onboarding, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, provides information and assistance to the new arrivals.

“Our mission statement is clear about the way in which we aspire to prepare our students and create discoveries that benefit our world and society,” Schill said to the group. “Student success is everyone’s work. We need your help to create a culture that expects and supports student graduation in four years.”

Phillips invited them to stay connected with his office throughout their time at the UO, as active mentorship is one of his top priorities.

“I want to make sure that you’re all supported in your success as you get started at the university,” Phillips said. “You are here because we believe in you, because we know the contributions you’re going to make, and because you are going to be the ones who help move the university forward.”

This year’s event included advice on how faculty members can successfully start in research, scholarship and creative work; what every new UO faculty member needs to know; and how to connect with various campus partners. Incoming members were also invited to access resources such as the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, as well as the UO New Faculty Success Program.

Geovanna Rodriguez recently finished a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and said she is happy to begin teaching Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences in the College of Education.

“As a first-generation scholar, this experience can be a little overwhelming,” she said during the event. “But the faculty here have been very supportive and welcoming, so I am excited to begin the fall term.”

Nancy Cunningham, interim associate dean for research and instructional services, said, “There’s so much fantastic talent here. I’m really excited to work for an Association of Research Libraries library and an Association of American Universities university.”

Cunningham is joining UO Libraries from the University of South Florida.

Additional information about faculty resources and opportunities are available on the Office of the Provost website.

—By Jessica T. Brown, University Communications