ANTONIO DOS SANTOS
From my first visit in August, I felt an overwhelming sense of welcome and belonging. The warmth extended by your family (and Tim’s) made the transition seamless. It was not just a professional environment; it felt like a home away from home. The genuine smiles, the open doors, and the inclusive atmosphere were instrumental in making me feel part of a larger community that went beyond just work colleagues.
Your support early on meant a lot, especially since I had just graduated and was most certainly over my head. You helped keep me afloat professionally and personally. I cannot speak enough about the environment that you helped create in the small (but mighty) department. Throughout my time at SUNY, your guidance was invaluable. You were always there to offer administrative support, helping me navigate the complexities of the academic environment which included fighting on my behalf for proposed courses and roles.
Your care towards your colleagues and your students shined through and I have to say, rubbed off on me. I came from a not-so-supportive academic environment where mentoring was rare. I learned a good deal about how to engage students and how to generate content and manage expectations (about myself and students) from you. Those insights are still with me and students continue to benefit. I still use your bias test at the start of all my ethics courses and I have given out copies to other colleagues who have used them too.
One of the most empowering aspects of my experience at SUNY was the level of autonomy and trust you granted me. This freedom allowed me to explore and develop my own teaching style. It was a journey of self-discovery, where I could experiment, innovate, and learn from my experiences. Your trust was a testament to your belief in my potential, and it motivated me to strive for excellence.
You and your wife took care of my possessions and housed them for me. The stuff did not matter, but the effort, time and care that you showed someone that you had only known for a few months cannot be put into words. You had an impact on my teaching, my manner with students, colleagues, university administration (and how to mostly ignore them).
Most importantly you had an impact on my family and my personal life. My fiancé and then wife instantly felt welcomed in your home and circle of friends. The kind of person you are is the kind of educator that all students deserve. For all these reasons and more, I am deeply grateful. Thank you for being a mentor, a guide, and a friend.