Ricky also wants faculty to know he’s ready to have conversations about how he can help them with their grant writing, their curriculum development, their research and their teaching. “I want to help them meet their goals, and I want to listen to any challenges they may be facing and try to address them, together.”

‘Engagement’ to Ricky means both recruiting faculty for Undergraduate education programs and,  more importantly, asking what he can do for them. He’ll also be looking to help expand and enhance programs in undergraduate education and launch a pilot faculty fellows program.

Ricky completed his PhD in History at Stony Brook in August 2021, noting that the University’s unique ‘thematic-based’ curriculum was more appealing to him than most others’ single discipline offerings. “There’s a very interesting synergy when you’re able to  take courses outside of your specific area of study.”

During his studies, he taught as a part-time lecturer in History and Social Studies Education, two departments he continues to teach in today. Upon receiving his PhD, he worked in the Office of Proposal Development within the Office of the Vice President of Research, where he became involved in the realm of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Through his teaching and mentoring, and by working and talking with faculty researchers in disciplines ranging from STEM, to the Humanities, to Arts and Sciences, “I learned the language of it all and developed, I think, a unique skillset. I understand how each world works. And I know how faculty researchers talk to each other. Now I get to work with them, even as I continue doing the teaching I love, including helping educate future teachers.”

Asked what he’s most excited about, Ricky says, “I’m excited about it all, I think.” He adds that both he and his wife, Zuccaire Gallery’s Georgia Lamair, “both love working here.”