In early September 2015, Dr. Kathleen Alaimo was appointed the Interim Provost of Saint Xavier University by President Wiseman after the unexpected passing of Provost Paul DeVito. In an interview via email, Alaimo gave some insight and information about herself and her goals as the Interim Provost.
Alaimo, Interim Provost and Professor of History, has been working at SXU since 1992. Some positions that she has held at the university include: Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, Director of the Women and Gender Studies Program, Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, and now, Interim Provost.
In addition to these positions, Alaimo describes her role on the First Year Experience Steering Committee. “I have been active in the First Year Experience Steering Committee which focuses on first year students and on the General Education Committee. In 1996-97, I co-chaired a committee that organized an international conference on children’s rights to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Saint Xavier University,” said Alaimo.
With a bit of humor and hometown pride, Alaimo talks about an experience in New York, her relation to the recent Chicago baseball excitement, and the existence of the transistor radio. “I grew up in Brooklyn, New York – and so yes, I am a New York Yankees fan. But right now, I am rooting for the Cubs as a matter of pride in my adopted home town.” said Alaimo.
Continuing with her life, Alaimo speaks about some of her educational background and her experiences throughout this journey. “In 1978, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Brooklyn College, along with minors in Political Science and English. I then earned my Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Chicago, with a focus on European Intellectual History,”
Once in Chicago, it seemed to Alaimo that the Midwest was the place to be and where she would spend a great deal of her time. “The move to Chicago for graduate school marked the start of my Midwestern sojourn. In 1988, I earned my Ph.D. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an emphasis in European Social History, Modern French History, and Women’s Studies,” Alaimo said. However, it was in 1987 when Alaimo took an assistant professorship at Xavier University where she really began to flourish as an educator.
“I very much enjoyed my experience at Xavier, a Catholic Jesuit university[…]I honed my teaching skills, completed my dissertation and began to publish some of my research, and most important I learned the significance of the faculty role in the life of a university,” said Alaimo.
Though Alaimo had many enjoyable experiences at Xavier University, the time came when she decided to return to Chicago and would begin working at Saint Xavier University. “Despite a wonderful experience at Xavier, I was anxious to return to Chicago where my husband was employed as a history professor at an area college. And that is how I arrived at Saint Xavier University in the fall of 1992. I was very much attracted to Catholic higher education though I did not know anything, at that time, about the Sisters of Mercy and their heritage and values,” said Alaimo.
For students who may not know what the role of a Provost is, Alaimo took the time to explain some of these roles and responsibilities. These responsibilities are important for the university to continue running smoothly and efficiently.
“The Provost is the chief academic officer of a university and as such is responsible for the creation and implementation of the academic priorities of the institution; works to identify, allocate, and manage the resources required to support quality programs and faculty; oversees the hiring, evaluation and promotion of faculty; serves as the chief spokesperson for all academic matters at the university and serves in place of the President in the event of her absence,” said Alaimo.
The Provost is to consult and collaborate with different deans, chairs, directors, faculty, and staff. “Of particular importance is the Provost’s role in facilitating communication between and among key constituent groups: the Board of Trustees, the Faculty Senate, the Faculty Affairs Committee, the Schools and College, the President’s Cabinet, and other divisions within the University, such as Student Affairs,” said Alaimo.
Alaimo has had many roles at SXU and stepping into the role of Provost meant moving out of the role of educator of her Transitions class. “My teaching role at SXU included world history, European history, and women’s history courses. More recently I taught Transitions for five years; this year I had to give my section to a colleague following my appointment as Interim Provost because I did not think I could give the students the attention they deserve,” Alaimo said.
Alaimo has also amassed a body of published works in journals and books as well as contributions to the works of others. “I’ve published my research in the Journal of Social History, Journal of Family History, and French Historical Studies as well as in numerous book chapters, and I am the co-editor and contributor to a 2002 book titled Children as Equals: Exploring the Rights of the Child,” said Alaimo.
In addition to this information, Alaimo shares an interesting piece of history to add to the ideas and roles of the Provost. Interestingly enough, this French definition is where the term Provost came from and the explanation is a little humorous: “Because I am an expert in French history, I happen to know that the originally the term ‘Prevost’ meant ‘keeper of a prison,’” Alaimo said.
As to why this term is used, particularly through the lens of higher education, remains a mystery. “I haven’t the foggiest idea why that term was picked up by universities to denote the role of the chief academic officer since a university epitomizing everything a prison is not: a place of intellectual freedom, where faculty and students have the ability to channel curiosity into sustained inquiry, critical thinking, and creative effort,” said Alaimo.
Alaimo explains some of her goals for herself and her department as they begin a new journey together. One important goal for Alaimo is to be able to give the students at SXU the best education they possibly can receive.
“My overarching goal is to work with each of the units within Academic Affairs to ensure the highest quality educational experience for SXU students – both undergraduate and graduate – and to ensure that their education is grounded in the traditions and practices of liberal education, infused with the spirit of the Mercy founders, and directed towards the personal and professional aspirations of each student,” said Alaimo.
Alaimo believes that the university needs to acknowledge the changing times while still holding onto the same core values. “That may sound lofty, but what it really comes down to is supporting rigorous and distinctive academic programs, hiring dedicated and expert faculty and staff, managing resources in a responsible fashion and improving instructional facilities, and making choices to establish academic priorities in areas where we can excel and meet current and future student needs,” said Alaimo.
Alaimo also commented on how important it is for the university to remember to connect with the students and the community. “It also means knowing who we are – a 170 year old institution of higher education that has transformed generations of lives – and figuring out how to do that again, in 2015, for new populations of students seeking the same transformation that earlier generations of students sought. I believe that working collaboratively we can set internal priorities and then partner externally with alums, donors, and employers to realize our goals,” said Alaimo.
On final remarks, Alaimo explains why it is so important to her for her goals to be fulfilled at the university. “I was a first generation college student from a working class family (my father did not finish 8th grade because he had to go to work to help support his siblings). This is why I believe so intensely in the mission of this University, and the power we have to help change lives,” said Alaimo.
Alaimo also recognizes that her services provided to the university are deep-rooted in a sense of giving back and providing students with the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment “I have been the beneficiary of all that education can do for an individual, a family, a community and I believe others deserve that same opportunity. My singular goal is to make sure SXU provides that opportunity for others,” said Alaimo.
Julie Gardner
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