University of New England

Nexus
Late Afternoon Calls

by Steve Price, Director of Communications

Like a multi-faceted gemstone, to truly appreciate Sandra Featherman you must see her from a lot of diff erent angles. As a high-energy, hands-on president, many such opportunities are aff orded, some straight on, others more oblique – asking hard questions in budget meetings, speaking eloquently to a potential donor, calming an angry parent, lecturing on the American Constitution to a classroom of rapt undergraduates, editing a piece of writing she’s never seen before with an alacrity that belies her lack of familiarity with the words on the page. The list goes on and on.

Observing Sandra in her sundry activities as president of the University of New England is to behold a renaissance person in the fl esh. Such observation is typically accompanied by some measure of awe, followed by a series of internal questions: Where did she learn that?

How does she fi nd the time? Where does she get all that energy? The answers, of course, are Sandra’s far-ranging intelligence, her equally deep and wide education and experience, and her seemingly indefatigable drive. Add her sincerely warm, caring personality. Were other observers to write about her, they would likely describe other fi ne traits as well, but I think we’d all agree on these. Like any good university president, Sandra is a complex mix of hard and soft traits. Flinty when necessary, fl exible when called upon, fun-loving when relaxed and full of compassion when confronted with human suff ering. She can go toe-to-toe with the toughest lawyers, bottom-line accountants and infl amed professors. She can also jump joyfully to her feet at a critical turn in a suspenseful athletic event. And reach across a table to hold the hand of a colleague who’s suff ered a terrible personal loss.

For me, one of Sandra’s most endearing traits was when she’d take time from her unbelievably busy schedule to compliment you when you did something particularly well. Th ese presidential encomiums typically came near the end of the workday, when the day weighed heavy from an accumulation of stress, fatigue and anxiety over not getting all your work done. “Hi, this is Sandra,” she’d brightly pronounce on the other end of the phone. “I just want to tell you what a great job you did today…” Suddenly the day brightened and a heavy load was lightened. You’d cruise through the rest of the afternoon, and into the evening. Maybe you’d even sleep better that night.

I’m looking forward to working with our new president, Danielle Ripich, whom I’ve met and from what I’ve seen and by others’ accounts has the potential to be a great leader in her own right and style. But I’m going to miss Sandra. A lot. Especially those late afternoon calls.

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