Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New Post as Dean of Schools of Public and Social Services & Education at Ivy Tech Community College


A MESSAGE FROM DR. RICHARD WEINBLATT, THE COP DOC:

Here is the big announcement...

The Weinblatt family is off to new adventures as I have been offered and have accepted a terrific new opportunity that allows me to serve students and faculty in the vital community college arena while still preserving my existing business of The Cop Doc LLC.

I was called while I was giving a keynote speech to a police conference in the Boston area and told that, following interviews, presentations, and screenings, I was selected as the top candidate for the position of Dean of the School of Public and Social Services and the School of Education for Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana in Indianapolis, IN.

This followed several hurdles including an all day marathon of meetings I had in Indianapolis at Ivy Tech Community College with different stakeholders including a formal open forum presentation to the college on my vision for the dean's post if I were selected, as well as separate interviews with the program chairs that report to this dean position, other deans, the incumbent dean (twice), the vice chancellor of academic affairs (twice), and the chancellor (who used to be the chief academic officer at the very respected Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL).

Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana is one of the largest, respected, and well-known community colleges in the country with approx. 35,000 students.

The Dean of the School of Public and Social Services and the School of Education oversees program chairs, faculty, and staff (as well as dean's office administrative staff) in the following areas:

School of Public and Social Services- Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Hospitality Administration, Human Services, Library Technical Assistant, Mortuary Science, Paralegal Studies, and Public Safety Technology.

School of Education- Early Childhood Education and Education.

The Dean reports to the chief academic officer who in turn reports to the college's chief executive.

After subsequent reference and background checks, I have since been formally offered this really terrific opportunity and I told them that I am honored to accept. The even better news is that (as is customary in colleges) I will be able to keep my The Cop Doc LLC business operating albeit with some time constraints. If anything, as one person pointed out to me early on, the Dean position gives my expertise an enhanced level of credibility.

Here is the announcement that was just put out by the vice chancellor of academic affairs who is the chief academic officer:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Weinblatt to the position of Dean of the School of Public and Social Services & Education. Dr. Weinblatt earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Administration from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida. Most recently he has served as Director of the Public Safety Institute at Central Ohio Technical College and prior to that as Program Manager and Professor for the Criminal Justice Institute at Seminole Community College in Sanford, Florida. He has been active in criminal justice classrooms since 1997. He also is the principal consultant for The COP DOC, LLC, a consulting service in the area of law Enforcement.

I am sure that you will all join me in welcoming Dr. Weinblatt to the College.

This is just a fantastic opportunity to serve! We (Anne, Michael, and I) have been scrambling on housing, movers, etc. and expect to drive out to Indianpolis on Friday, December 9, 2011. The other good news is that Anne's company recognizes her value and loyalty and has graciously allowed her to telecommute from Indianapolis. It's just a win-win for everyone and we are very lucky with the way it has all turned out.

This is just a terrific opportunity to make a difference within a large, nationally respected community college arena and it is a natural career progression.

Thank you again to all of our friends, clients, and colleagues in Orlando and elsewhere. We appreciate your continued support as the Ivy Tech Community College Dean adventure begins and The Cop Doc LLC business continues on.