(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)January 31, 2003

(Mahwah) – In a statement released today to the Ramapo College of New Jersey community, President Rodney D. Smith announced the appointment of Dr. William Sanborn Pfeiffer as provost/vice president for academic affairs. The appointment is effective July 1, 2003.

Dr. Pfeiffer’s record reflects an innovator in the development of new programs, a successful fundraiser and an excellent leader and team player,” said Smith in his announcement. Pfeiffer, who is presently serving as vice president for academic affairs at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia, brings over 30 years of higher education experience in teaching, research, service and administration. His expertise in communications and the Japanese culture has yielded numerous publications and presentations, including four communications textbooks currently in print and four articles on Japanese culture published in the past two years.

Pfeiffer commented that I want to thank Dr. Rodney Smith, the faculty, staff, and students for my being selected provost and vice president for academic affairs. Throughout the search process, I was impressed by the commitment everyone at Ramapo has to the college. That remarkable loyalty shows that the institution has the most important ingredient for greatness-the very best people. Certainly another strong attraction for me is the historical and continuing emphasis on international, intercultural, interdisciplinary, and experiential education-Ramapo’s Four Pillars of Learning. In short, I cannot imagine a more interesting institution to be a part of, or a more exciting time to be here.”

In addition to his position as vice president for academic affairs at Southern Polytechnic State, where he has served since 1980, Pfeiffer held positions as acting associate vice president for academic affairs, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and department head for Humanities and Technical Communication. Prior to this, he was an assistant professor of English at the University of Houston – Downtown and at Southwest Texas State University.

Among his many publications, Pfeiffer is the author of Technical Writing: A Practical Approach, 5th edition (Prentice Hall, 2003); Pocket Guide to Public Speaking (Prentice Hall, 2002); Pocket Guide to Technical Writing, 2nd edition(Prentice Hall, 2001); Proposal Writing: The Art of Friendly and Winning Persuasion (with C. H. Keller, Jr., Prentice Hall, 2000). His articles and essays include Japan,” World Education Encyclopedia; Japanese Puritan: Uchimura Kanzo and the Nonchurch Movement,” East-West Connections: Review of Asian Studies; Think Polytechnic: Japan Studies at a Technical University,” Japan Studies Association Journal; and On Management Programming Performance,” Sky: Delta Air Lines Magazine.

Pfeiffer earned his B.A. degree in English from Amherst College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Kent State University. He is married to Evelyn Hepp Pfeiffer and has two children–Zachary, a sophomore at Dartmouth College, and Kathryn, a freshman at Davidson College.

###

About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Press Release Archives

| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 |