Spotlight on Associate Dean Rosetta Sandidge:
Q. How is the garden?
A. The garden was wonderful, with the exception of the blight that overtook the green beans. While all the credit for our vegetable garden goes to my brother, my sister-in-law and I get to take the credit for the gorgeous jars of tomato juice and packages of frozen corn that grace our pantry and freezer. Obviously, I enjoy working in the garden. It helps alleviate stress, and you can see immediate results of your work as you stand back, survey, and take delight in the fruit of your labor!
Q. What was your best experience as Interim Dean of the College of Education and are there any accomplishments in the past year that you are really proud of?
A. I had a wonderful time as interim dean, and trying to identify the best experience would be extremely difficult. It was truly a special year for me, and I want to publicly thank Provost Subbaswamy for giving me the opportunity to serve the college in this way. Perhaps the accomplishment that will have the greatest impact was the recruitment of 10 new faculty members. I am so excited about our newest faculty hires and look forward to the many contributions I know they will make to our college and university in the years to come.
Q. What’s one thing that your Office of Academic and Student Services does that is underappreciated?
A. I have to say how tremendously proud I am of our academic and student services staff. They are so dedicated to the work they do. I do not think it is readily apparent to the general observer how much work takes place in what we affectionately call “166 TEB” because the staff is able to handle routine and sometimes not-so-routine tasks in such an efficient manner. They work so well together and want what is best for our students and faculty. I treasure every single member of our staff.
Q. Your area of specialty is teacher induction, so is there one thing that the College could improve on in that regard?
A. Kentucky has a wonderful teacher induction program and has had since 1985 when the General Assembly passed legislation to establish the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP). As I have presented on the program at numerous conferences over the years, I am amazed at the positive reaction the program garners from educators across the country. Since the inception of KTIP, the UK College of Education has played a leadership role in designing the program components and assessments, training committee members to serve on support teams, and providing teacher educators to serve on the committees. I have never been too busy in any assignment I have had over the years to serve as a teacher educator on KTIP committees. These experiences have kept me grounded in P-12 schools and focused on what a college of education is really all about – teaching and learning. While we have a large number of faculty members who serve on KTIP committees, I would like to encourage others to do so. It provides a tremendous opportunity for us to link our research, teaching, and service missions across higher education and P-12 settings.
Q. How has your background in Home Economics helped you over the years?
A. During my tenure at UK, I have had the good fortune to serve in a variety of administrative roles in the college. At various times, I have "worn multiple hats" such as serving as NCATE coordinator and associate dean and, more recently, as associate dean and interim dean. These administrative positions require setting priorities, managing time and resources efficiently, establishing relationships, creating a climate where teamwork is valued and rewarded, and collaborating with key stakeholders both within and outside the college. All of these tasks are emphasized in management coursework included in Family and Consumer Sciences programs all across the country. Additionally, my curricular emphasis in early child care and my work as a student intern at TCUs early childhood laboratory and subsequent employment at Fort Hood's Preschool definitely helped prepare me to work with our early childhood education faculty and students. Of course, my experience as an eighth-grade home economics teacher has proven invaluable to me as a teacher educator as well. That practical, real-world experience brings with it a great deal of credibility as I teach my classroom management and discipline courses.
Q. So, we hear you are a big UK basketball fan, so what’s your advice for Coach Calipari?
A. I have always been a big UK basketball fan. As a young girl growing up in Irvine, I would sneak my transistor radio to bed with me to listen to Caywood call the end of the basketball games if the games ended after my bedtime. Even then, when we lost a game, I would have trouble falling asleep! In later years when I lived away from Kentucky, I would try to find TV coverage of the games. If I couldn't, I would call Mom and Dad to learn the results of the games. While I'm a loyal True Blue fan, I certainly cannot claim enough expertise to advise Coach Cal on the technical aspects of the game. He is the expert there. I can encourage him, however, to take us crazed UK fans with a grain of salt.
