In , Chief of Staff to the President Hanna Rodriguez-Farrar explains how ߲ݴý University’s Board of Trustees works, talks about planning a commencement during a pandemic, and tells how one lucky lottery ticket changed the course of her life.
Rodriguez-Farrar says that, while there is no typical day as chief of staff, the role is often “trying to expand the capacity of the President” and requires looking at the institution in an integrated way each day.
After spending time in similar roles at Dominican University of California and Brown University, Rodriguez-Farrar joined ߲ݴý in 2018. Previously, she held the position of project manager and researcher at Harvard University, where she earned her master’s in education and education doctorate. She has also earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and PhD from Brown University’s Department of the History of Art and Architecture.
Since joining ߲ݴý, Rodriguez-Farrar has assisted in redefining the structure of the Board of Trustees and engaged its members in support of a new diversity, equity, and inclusion program. She has contributed to the development of the University’s Third-Century Plan and recently oversaw the committee responsible for delivering the in-person commencement celebration for the Class of 2021.
Each episode of 13, ߲ݴý’s biweekly podcast, digs into the work of one University community member by asking 13 questions. Episodes highlight the wide array of academic disciplines at ߲ݴý, with interviews featuring faculty from political science, sociology and anthropology, physics and astronomy, women’s studies, English, Africana and Latin American studies, and many more. This will be the last episode of the spring semester, returning in August with a new season for the fall.
Previous episodes of 13 have featured: F. Scott Kraly, Kerra Hunter, Joe Levy, Nicki Moore, Ken Valente, Sarah Keen, Daniel Benton ’80, Laura H. Jack, Carrie Keating, Robert Kraynak, Dan Gough, Jennifer Tomlinson, Ana Jimenez, Alicia Simmons, Juan Fernando Ibarra Del Cuentro, Karen Harpp, Kwazi Konadu, Paul McLoughlin II, Anthony Aveni, Robert Garland, Ryan Hall, Craig Hatkoff ’76, Susan Thomson, Nick Kokonas ’91, Jessica Graybill, Brian W. Casey, Jeff Bary, Jennifer Brice, Ellen Percy Kraly, Danielle Lupton, Ynesse Abdul-Malak, Nimanthi Rajasingham, and John Pumilio.
Find 13 on your favorite podcast platform, including , , and .