New dean elected at Hudson Valley

Hunter Wallace
News Editor

Dr. Fabian Vega has become Dean of the school of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

A graduate of Union Theological Seminary and Yale University, Vega holds prior experience in administration, management, supervision and teaching, all of which he feels has prepared him for this new position.

“I just thought it was a great opportunity for me, simply because I have experience with many of the disciplines within the liberal arts and science program,” said Vega.

“I was already supervising in Baltimore, and I thought it was a great opportunity for me to expand my experience and understanding of a larger community college,” said Vega.

In his new position, Vega is responsible for providing new direction and leadership to the department. He will also be tasked with developing new programs, certificates and courses of study, as well as initiatives to increase enrollment and diversity.

Currently, Vega is aiming to expand upon the college’s accelerated offerings, or programs that allow students to complete their degrees and graduate from Hudson Valley sooner than the traditional 24 months required.

“One of the key things that we as a college are trying to do is accelerate our programs, particularly our online accelerated programs,” said Vega.

“If you look at the current market, many universities out there are offering students an opportunity to finish their degrees earlier and sooner; I believe that’s something Hudson Valley can offer,” said Vega.

In addition to early graduation, Vega believes accelerated programs affect other facets of administration.

“It’s been my experience that accelerated programs also increase enrollment and retention. What you get with these programs is a certain type of student body — more focused and more driven” said Vega.

“So, what we’ve noticed is that many in these programs graduated on time and [with] [lower] dropout rates,” he said.

Being responsible for overseeing both liberal arts and sciences, Vega recognizes the significance of both programs to Hudson Valley students.

“I know that everybody has their gifts, talents and strengths; not everybody can fit into every one of those circles or boxes. I would encourage everybody to discover what they are good at and pursue that,” said Vega.

Vega also shared his thoughts on community college in general.

“The strength of a community college is that you have professors who love teaching, sharing their expertise and interacting with students,” said Vega.

“I believe that community college will continue to have a place in our society because it’s a good place to learn, discover and get your footing in terms of what you’d like to do in a four-year program,” said Vega.

Vega hopes that students follow their interests, which he believes will lead to their satisfaction.

“One of the key things is to pursue your passion and strength. It’s easy to pursue jobs based on how much they pay, but in the end, are you doing what you love and are passionate about? That’s what’s going to matter,” he said.