Much of the junior class will pack their bags to go abroad this Fall, and Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta will be joining in their departure.
Moneta will travel to Croatia on a Fulbright research scholarship from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars to study student services at many Croatian universities. He also plans to explore to other central European universities and will return to Duke in January 2010, "40 years later than everybody else," Moneta said.
"Right now I'm thinking this is still someone else's life," Moneta said. "I'm still running around to meetings, I'm still planning the Fall.... There's a part of my brain that's totally focused on the upcoming academic year, but then every now and then I remember I won't be here for the first part of it."
He said he hopes to use his research to assess how Duke provides student services and come back with new ideas.
"I think this will give me a chance to review what we do and justify it, and I think that's a healthy thing in this economic environment," Moneta said. "I'm not going in with a parochial view that the way we do things is the best way to do things or the only way to do things."
While he is abroad, Moneta's job at Duke will be divided among his three assistant vice presidents-Zoila Airall, assistant vice president of student affairs for campus life, Caroline Nisbet, assistant vice president of student affairs for resource administration and Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek. Moneta said he is confident the staff will successfully handle his responsibilities.
Wasiolek said she looks forward to learning about the University from Moneta's perspective, although the new responsibilities may add more to her already busy schedule.
"I think it's going to be very exciting and challenging all at the same time," she said. "I am eager to take on the new responsibilities for the semester, as opposed to anxious. And I think I'm eager first and foremost because I know that [my] staff will be able to do well in all of their capacities even with my attention somewhat diverted."
Communication with students will still continue in Moneta's absence, said senior Spencer Eldred, Duke Student Government vice president for student affairs. Although he would have worked most closely with Moneta, Eldred said he will keep Moneta informed throughout the Fall.
"Most of the things that we've done have usually involved multiple administrators anyway... and it was great to have Dr. Moneta's voice at the table as well, but Dean Sue especially seems like someone who's great to work with," he said. "Working with more than one administrator is more difficult, but usually on big decisions it's helpful to get the opinion of three people anyway."
Moneta's parents were born in Poland, and Moneta said he looks forward to learning more about Croatia, which he called "a fascinating country." While abroad, Moneta said he hopes to write about his experiences.
Still, his presence at Duke will be missed by many.
"He will definitely be missed," Wasiolek said. "I've kidded him that without him around we are going to party all the time. He knows that's not true, though."
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