New vice president of Academic Affairs uses past to promote change

Zoe Deno
Staff Writer

“I like the idea of higher education — it encourages people to dream big and do what they want to do with their life,” said newly instated Vice President of Academic Affairs MaryAnn Janosik.

Janosik shared this sentiment upon being named interim Vice President of Student Affairs for the 2017-2018 on Oct. 9.
“I don’t know where else I would want to be, except maybe on the stage at Woodstock,” Janosik said.

Janosik will hold the position for one academic year as Hudson Valley conducts the search for a new president.

“I’ve felt very strongly that the incoming president should be able to have a hand in selecting senior leadership,” said Hudson Valley’s current president Drew Matonak.
Janosik sees herself as more than a temporary employee of the college.

“I don’t look at myself like a placeholder for a year,” Janosik said. “I am not going to just sit in an office and [leave Hudson Valley without changing anything]. I have specific tasks that the college wants me to address.”

Her agenda includes examining the college’s current degree programs. She plans to investigate programs in new and emerging fields that could provide more opportunities for Hudson Valley students to broaden their horizons.

“This is especially true about degrees pertaining to computer science and technology, where the need for that program changes quickly,” Janosik said. “You don’t want to be implementing a new program in three years if it will be outdated in five years.”

Janosik believes that academics are key to students’ futures.
“We don’t create obstacles for students, but rather we create a pathway for students to [find] success,” Janosik said. “I’m a bit biased here, but I believe the heart of an institution lies in academic affairs because everything we do follows you to the students and the community.”

A history major, Janosik started her career as a high school teacher while simultaneously working on her doctorate in popular media. Initially, it was not her intention to become a faculty leader. When she received her doctorate, she realized there were certain topics she wanted to teach, but she was hindered by a high school setting.

This was one factor that led to Janosik’s next step as an educator at the college level. At this point, she also started getting involved in administration in the college.
“Then, I took what I call my ‘momentary lapse of reason,’” Janosik said.

Janosik left higher education to work at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for two year as education director, helping design curriculum for colleges.

Her time at the Rock and Roll hall of Fame also inspired her to write her book, “The Video Generation,” which explores the effect that the making of music videos had on popular culture in the 1980s.

“There was a limited amount of things that I could do,” Janosik said. “I say it’s the best job I ever left because it was fun, but there wasn’t a lot [of room] to grow there.”

She doesn’t regret her stint at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because she feels it has expanded her career opportunities.
“[My time at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame] opened doors that weren’t open before and it made me think what I could do to be more creative with my career,” Janosik said.