An Extraordinary Student
Lisa Hollibaugh
"I can’t hope to capture in a few sentences what Dean Valentini has meant to Columbia College and what he has meant to me and my colleagues. It would take paragraphs and chapters and volumes to describe the many ways that he has encouraged our thinking, supported our work and guided our efforts to make the College the best version of itself for our students and faculty.
"So I’ll just share one of my favorite things about Jim Valentini: He will always be an extraordinary dean because he will always be an extraordinary student.
"No matter how much expertise and wisdom he’s developed in his years directing chemistry labs and teaching college classes and leading the greatest college in the greatest university in the greatest city in the world, he approaches every new conversation with you with a desire to learn.
"He listens. He discusses. He questions. He engages. He cares.
"And more often than not, when the conversation is done, not only has he learned something about you, but in his thoughtful consideration of the ideas and experiences you’ve shared, he’s reflected something back to you about yourself.
"Because he is an extraordinary student who became an extraordinary teacher who became an extraordinary Dean. He inspires me to be a better student, and I am the better for it."
Lisa Hollibaugh
Dean of Academic Affairs