Members of the SUNY New Paltz faculty and staff celebrated the short but impactful tenure of W. Wayne Brumfield, who in just a single year as interim vice president for student affairs earned a reputation as an immensely skilled higher education administrator, and a generous, kind-hearted colleague and friend.
Brumfield had served as vice president for student affairs at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. After retiring from that role, he came to the College on an interim contract through an organization that connects colleges and universities with qualified and available candidates for temporary positions.
At New Paltz, he made immediate and lasting contributions in all areas of student affairs.
“Wayne brought to us a depth and breadth of experience in student affairs that really positioned him well to lead a large and complex unit,” said President Donald P. Christian. “He came not only with experience, but also an uncommon dose of common sense; a keen sense of campus politics; an ever-present and healthy good humor; a strong work ethic; and an overarching care and interest in students and student success.”
In just one year, Brumfield made numerous contributions to the long-term success of New Paltz and its students:
- He played a central role in the College’s response to the outbreak of mumps on campus, including by helping design an improved system for documenting student immunization records;
- He helped implement a new early intervention system that makes it easier for faculty to communicate with the appropriate student affairs personnel when they notice a student being disruptive in class;
- He worked to develop programming to help community members understand resources available to undocumented students;
- And he offered insights and met with candidates during the College’s search for a permanent vice president for student affairs, which led to the hire of Stephanie Blaisdell, effective July 10.
“Wayne handled difficult issues with grace, sound judgment, and a firm, but gentle, hand, and he gave me excellent counsel on some of the tough issues that we dealt with this year,” President Christian said.
These accomplishments loom large, but Brumfield’s more lasting impact may well be his outgoing and positive personality as the face of Student Affairs.
If you spent time on the New Paltz campus between July 2016 and June 2017, you probably got to spend at least a few minutes in conversation with Interim VP Brumfield. The truly fortunate even got to sample his homemade gumbo at the spring all-faculty/staff appreciation picnic, or hear him sing “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” with Questionable Authorities at an April concert benefitting students.
“It’s hard to talk about Wayne Brumfield without acknowledging his genuine love for people, his zest for life and his curiosity about almost anything and everything,” said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Eaton. “His sense of humor, his continuous optimism, and his genuine warmth are things we will never forget.”
The farewell reception in Brumfield’s honor included a presentation of gifts reflecting his contributions to the College: a replica of one of the many mumps information signs that were posted around campus; a poster acknowledging his position on the President’s Cabinet and contributions as leader of Student Affairs; a SUNY New Paltz polo shirt; and a framed print by Hudson Valley photographer Steve Jordan of a barn after a snowfall.
“This has been a great year for me, and I leave with great expectations for the campus,” Brumfield said. “I’m going back to my home, and when I see my colleagues we’ll be talking about what we can do to replicate the great things going on here at New Paltz. I want to thank you all for opening your arms to me, my wife, daughters and granddaughter, because we’ve greatly enjoyed ourselves here in New York State.
“To this campus community I say, ‘please keep doing the right things, and keep pushing forward.’ If you do that, you can’t go anywhere but up.”
