Campus Bids Farewell to Program Dean
Dr. Jim Scott Joined the College of Pharmacy in 2021 Amid Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions
Touro University California leadership, faculty and staff came together Aug. 19 to bid a fond farewell to Dr. Jim Scott, Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
They spoke during a gathering in the Farragut Inn Ballroom of Scott’s leadership and of his accomplishments, as well as his empathy, his caring nature, and his overall approach when dealing with others.
Chief among his accomplishments was assembling a strong leadership team within the College, successful accreditation amid the pandemic, and transitioning the Pharmacy curriculum from a four-year to a three-year program.
Scott pointed to the former as his most significant accomplishment, from which all future successes followed.
“A lot of people think that as a leader you have to be able to do everything. I can’t, especially all at once. So, you have to assemble this team. You have to bring these people together who know what they’re doing better than you could ever do that, and then hopefully they gel and hopefully they can do that. And they did,” Scott said. “And so all these things that we have, I do not take credit for. I will say I put people together.”
A Humanistic Approach to Work, Life
He went on to praise the work of individuals within the College who made the recent successes possible. He then spoke of the conversations he’s had with others since his departure was announced, of how people would tell him how he had helped them and he never realized what he had done warranted their thanks.
“All of it kind of circles back, as I think about it, to the idea of humanism, which is really in my nature,” Scott said. “Humanism is the idea of looking at everybody as a human being; treating everybody with the same respect; recognizing that everybody has different opinions; that they all have their own wants, needs, desires, dreams, hopes, and all that stuff; and acknowledging that.”
He said it doesn’t mean you have to like everyone, but you can still respect them and what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. And if you can’t respect something that’s happening, he said you work with them to figure out why, and what, and how you can move forward.
“So, I think if I could give anything to the College, I would say, humanism,” Scott said. “Be good to people. Treat them as human beings, as you would want to be treated, and things will eventually work out.”
Scott’s Character Shines Through in Praise from Peers
Scott’s peers on the University’s leadership team each spoke: Deans Tami Hendriksz of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, who also serves as the University's Interim CAO, Steve Jacobson of Student Affairs, who also serves as Interim Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, and Newman Hoffman, Vice President and Interim CEO. A message from former CEHS Dean Lisa May Norton was read aloud.
“I have been very emotional since finding out about Jim’s leaving,” Hendriksz said. “I am heartbroken to see Jim go. I’m going to miss him dearly, and am so grateful that I got all of this time to learn from him and to kind of grow into being a Dean with him.”
The pair started as Deans within a few months of one another. They formed the Dean’s Council, which evolved into the current Executive Leadership Team, and with their leadership partners charted the course of TUC through the tail end of the pandemic to today.
“I always appreciate Jim’s approach,” Hendriksz said. “He’s incredibly pragmatic, incredibly logical. I love it. And the thing that I most love about Jim is his sense of humor.”
Hendriksz and Hoffman presented Scott with an award for his service to TUC.
His last day at TUC was Aug. 31. Dr. Catherine Cone, Associate Dean of Assessment for the College of Pharmacy, stepped in as Interim Dean, effective Sept. 1.