noteworthy
In August, Suffolk welcomed Eric (Rick) Oches as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Oches is a higher education leader and scholar who has championed the integration of arts and sciences with professional education. He succeeds retiring provost Julie Sandell, and most recently served as dean of arts & sciences at Bentley University. In that role, he worked collaboratively with faculty and deans across disciplines to help develop new undergraduate and graduate academic programs in response to evolving student and market needs.
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Fall 2024
Photograph: Michael J. Clarke
What first drew you to Suffolk University?
Suffolk’s presence in metro Boston and beyond is impressive. I was hiking in the Berkshires recently and met a Suffolk Law alumnus on the trail. Anywhere you go in this region, whether it’s government agencies, nonprofit organizations, cultural and arts institutions, startups or established companies, you’ll run into Suffolk graduates working in and leading those organizations. I’m excited for the opportunity to be part of a university that is graduating students into their communities to really make an impact.
One of the big challenges facing all schools right now is the public perception of the value and purpose of higher education. Suffolk is really well-positioned to make a difference in that national conversation because our mission is, in part, to transform lives and positively impact communities. There’s so much evidence of how that’s happening: Suffolk’s commitment to access and inclusion; our emphasis on experiential learning and career preparation; the places where Suffolk graduates land; and the contributions they make where they live and work. The lasting difference that education makes in the lives of our students and their families is a great way to demonstrate the value of higher education.
This is a time of great change for higher education due to shifting demographics and attitudes. Why do you believe Suffolk will thrive in this challenging environment?
The future of higher education, and its role in preparing engaged citizens and innovative leaders, lies at the intersection of liberal learning and professional education. Liberal arts education is absolutely vital to the comprehensive education of any student. Too often we package it as a general education core that you have to “get out of the way” in your first year, so you can move on to what “really matters.” But I think it is absolutely essential to weave that liberal education throughout the four years, so that students understand the historical, ethical, and cross-cultural context in which organizations operate and our global society functions. The technical, analytical, and communication skills are critical to employers and set our students up to succeed and lead in the workforce, but the liberal arts foundations contribute to a broadly educated citizenry, which is essential to a vibrant, inclusive democracy.
How do you view the role of a liberal arts education in a world that seems increasingly focused on acquiring technical skills?
My scientific research focused on reconstructing past environmental changes and human-environment interactions during prehistoric periods of climate change. I worked with geographers, geologists, anthropologists, plant biologists, social scientists, and others. Crossing those disciplinary boundaries, and building relationships across departments and schools, made me think differently about how we approached education as a whole.
In my first faculty position in a large research university, we were doing a great job of training environmental science students to clean up industries’ messes. As department chair, I began to think about how we might educate future organizational leaders to view environmental challenges as business opportunities. Could we encourage them toward a much more sustainable approach that builds in long-term improvement of climate, environment, and public health as an intentional part of the business development process, while remaining profitable?
Sustainability planning integrates environmental science, global health, economics, public policy, law, and an understanding of social systems and business development. And I see the opportunity to make more of those connections here at Suffolk through increased collaboration across the College of Arts & Sciences, Sawyer Business School, and the Law School.
How does your research and teaching background in environmental science and climate change inform your approach?
I grew up in Middletown, Ohio, now famous for JD Vance and Hillbilly Elegy. My education and early academic career took me to universities in Indiana, Minnesota, Florida, Massachusetts, and the Czech Republic. But after doing my graduate work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I was determined to return to the Northeast someday. The landscape and natural environment are absolutely beautiful, and I love the history, cultural diversity, and range of activities you can do—from hiking in the mountains to attending world-class theater and musical performances, to stepping onto the Freedom Trail and experiencing our rich history, right outside Suffolk’s doors.
Are you originally from Boston? What’s your favorite thing about this area?
By Andrea Grant