ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Noreen Golfman spent much of her day Tuesday responding to a torrent of messages and emails from people around the world.
A day after she announced she would be stepping down as provost and vice-president (academic) of Memorial University of Newfoundland, word had spread quickly.
“My social feeds and my (email) inbox have just been flooded with just great big hugs of appreciation. It’s overwhelming, actually,” Golfman said during an interview at her office on the third floor of MUN’s Arts and Administration Building.
“It’s really heartening. It’s been wonderful. … It’s, to some degree, a sign of how long I’ve been at this and working with people.”
Golfman has dedicated more than 35 years to the province’s university, having served in several senior positions in the last two decades.
Her decision to give up her current university position, which she first stepped into in 2014, was made public just a week after she announced she would be stepping down as head of the International Women’s Film Festival, which she founded 30 years ago.
Golfman — who was named the 2019 Woman of the Year by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists — said she had planned the move from the film festival for some time, allowing a fresh board to get organized to step in.
She felt good about that transition.
This one was different.
“The decision to step down from this job was harder to do,” said Golfman, a Montreal native who has a PhD from the University of Western Ontario and first joined MUN as a faculty member with the department of English in 1984.
“But I took a good month or so over the holidays and thought it through and made peace with the decision. So, I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
Golfman’s contribution to the university has been immense.
As the university’s chief academic officer, she is responsible for all academic matters, including the development and delivery of programs to more than 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students across a range of disciplines.
As dean of the school of graduate studies from 2008 to 2014, she oversaw huge growth at the university and transformed its approach to graduate enrolment. The number of graduate students doubled, while the international student population also grew and increased in diversity.
“The change in the culture, the joy, the rich experience that we brought to so many students has been hugely rewarding,” she said.
Golfman said she’s also proud that she was transparent in delivering hard news about provincial budget cuts that the university has experienced.
She said she was a proud defender of the integrity of Memorial’s academic programs, which she felt was adversely affected by the cuts.
“Cuts that are across the board only undermine and weaken this institution when they’re not carefully thought through,” said Golfman, who adds the university has been an easy target for the government.
“We have an obligation to the people of this province, to the delivering of a comprehensive university, to keep students here, to keep people studying and working here, especially now.”
“We have an obligation to the people of this province, to the delivering of a comprehensive university, to keep students here, to keep people studying and working here, especially now.”
Golfman is leaving at a time when Memorial will see a new president and vice-chancellor step in. Vianne Timmons will be replacing Gary Kachanoski, who announced in September he would be finishing his term earlier than expected.
While Golfman chose not to speak about specific reasons why she’s stepping down from her position, she admitted she grew frustrated.
“Sad to say that over the three years, things had gotten harder and harder. It’s not what I had signed up for when I came into this office. It’s just tough,” she said.
“We’re now at a tipping point with the university. I don’t think people realize the extent of the cuts on us and how it’s undermining our potential to be innovative and respond to change.”
Golfman said most of Memorial’s budget is taken up with salaries, leaving little operational discretion. She also pointed to the decrepit state of much of the infrastructure on campus, which she called hazardous in some cases.
In the end, it’s had demoralizing effects, she said.
“I’ve done everything with my team of deans and directors to uphold the integrity of what we do. Despite all of that, our enrolment has remained robust. But it’s a hard job and it’s a hard time for the university. We’ve done a lot of soul-searching and I’m not quite sure where this is all going,” said Golfman, who plans to write and speak more in the future about Memorial’s relationship with the government.
“I’ve been part of the struggling and a champion of the value of Memorial, and it’s about balancing my passion for the place against my need to look after myself.”
Golfman plans to take sabbatical leave, something she has only done once in the last 35 years.
“It’s kind of frightening and exciting to think about (taking) all that time, but there’s a lot I can’t do in this job that I do love to do and that includes writing and a lot more reading. There’s just no time for reflection,” said Golfman, whose final day on the job will be April 30.
“I want to turn my brain, the part of it that’s an administrator, to more creative things, so we’ll see. I’m going to give myself time to think about the next path.”
It won’t be easy for a person who thrives on and is energized by having many irons in the fire.
“I think in this moment of transition, it’s a bit double-edged. I’m sad to think about walking away from a job that I’ve really enjoyed, even though it’s been horrifyingly challenging at times,” said Golfman, who served two terms as president of the Canadian Federation of Social Sciences and Humanities, and is past-president of both the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies and the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools.
“It’s about the people who you work with in the environment, the community. There are so many fabulous people I work with at Memorial who I have become friends and mentors of and mentors to. So, that part has a lot of sadness.
“But the exciting part is the newness of turning a page and not quite knowing what awaits. I haven’t had that experience in a long time. I think it’s good for the soul to make change and I just feel ready for that. It wasn’t easy, but it’s the right choice now.”
Twitter: @TelyRosie
