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local Friday 29 July 2022
Interview with Sue Ann Lee

New Dean of FHTMS at the University of Aruba

is ready for the challenge

For a long time she was a studies in hospitality and them grow and develop.”
tourism executive in Aruba, tourism) or Colegio Aruba- FHTMS awards the degree
but Sue Ann Lee already no (advanced secondary of Bachelor of Science,
has six years giving lectures education) was something a three-year study, and it
at the Faculty of Hospitality completely different. “It’s sees the students grow and
and Tourism Management a beautiful experience, develop their abilities. “It’s
Studies at the University of because here it has to do very impressive.” The new
Aruba. And now, she’s the with a different generation. dean illustrates how fasci-
faculty’s dean. I can show examples from nating it is to see young stu-
Aruba itself. For tourism, you dents start the first year with
Lee, mom of four, decided don’t need to go far away a lot of reservations, with
to take the next challenge from home, don’t have to fear of speaking up, and
in her professional career go to Disney to understand fear of doing presentations.
and she’s ready for it. “Af- the problems, the exam- “And then I can tell them
ter working so long in the ples that can be used to that I also went through
industry, I applied to work bring forward the situations a similar experience, and
in FHTMS as a lecturer, but described in the books. The now I stand in front of the
on a part-time basis. But experience helps a lot to class. You develop your
as fate would have it, a explain the literature.” Lee abilities, and we want for
full-time position became can use the realities in Aru- them to develop theirs,
available and I was chosen ba to illustrate the subject. among others, communi-
for it.” According to Lee, “The experience on the cation but also social abili-
after working many years in field is very valuable, and ties. That’s the great part.”
tourism she was interested I use it so that the students
in sharing not only her own can reflect closer to home. Sue Ann Lee, with her six
advanced education, but They are very critical and years at the University of
also her knowledge, with we provide them with the Aruba saw two groups of
the faculty’s students. “I opportunity to start thinking students graduate, and it’s not reacting. And when fewer hours. I used to give
wanted to transfer this into more critically about differ- those moments that fill her he said that, I decided to three classes per semester,
education. And at that mo- ent parts of our tourism and with happiness. “It’s so im- nominate myself, but giv- but now it will be one.”
ment I never thought of be- connecting them back to pressive to see how a stu- ing my colleagues also the The way in which Lee will
coming a dean.” the literature that they must dent started to finish their space to say if they want- manage will be different
master.” study with the presentation ed the position. But no one than Wardlaw, in the sense
The experience of work- of their thesis, how they else applied, so I was the that she wants everyone to
ing as a tourism executive “I can recognize myself in grew, and how they pres- only nominee,” Sue Ann carry more responsibility. “I
to then stand in front of a the students. I finished Co- ent the area that they dis- said with a laugh. will continue lecturing, so I
group of young people, legio and went to study covered they like for doing can’t carry everything.” In
mostly people who finished in the Netherlands, but at research.” Even so, she had to go other words, her manage-
EPI Horeca (advanced the same time we can see through the voting pro- ment style is to delegate.
The position of dean is not a cess. “It’s a two-year posi-
fixed position. A dean is the tion, so in two years I must Her partner knew that Lee
person guiding the faculty, go through another vot- was interested in the posi-
but normally the person is ing process if another col- tion of dean, which has a
chosen through an elec- league wants the position.” lot more responsibility, for
tion where the staff and stu- The voting took place example of marketing, pro-
dent representatives from during a faculty meeting cedures, and more work
each year participate. “So where all staff is present, in hours. “As a lecturer I gave
we have freshmen, juniors order to go over study pro- my lectures in the morn-
and seniors, and every grams, and how the lec- ing and had more flexibil-
month there is a faculty- tures are going. Students ity by noon and night. But
wide meeting. John Ward- also have the opportunity now there are other activi-
law was in charge of the to give their contribution in ties as part of the job, like
faculty for almost 12 years what they consider impor- events at the University of
and he informed he didn’t tant for the lectures, from Aruba. The hours change,
want to continue. But John the lecturers, and the op- I told my children, ‘you will
for some time already had eration of the University. Ev- see mommy less’” Lee said.
been saying he didn’t want eryone can bring forward “And they knew the baby
to continue, and even so, their points and the dean was coming.”
we kept voting for him.” is in charge of guiding the
However, this year Ward- process. The decision to become
law left it very clear that he dean was before the baby,
didn’t even wanted to be The work becomes then but for Lee, it’s just another
nominated, much less vot- one more administrative, challenge to organize, to
ed for. He wanted some- Lee explains. She manag- manage FHTMS beside her
one else to take his place. es a program, meets with responsibilities as a mom
“This was like the third time management, and deals of four. There’s no reason
he was saying this. So in my with everything the stu- to doubt that she will suc-
mind, the day was coming dents confront. “I will con- ceed.
and my colleagues were tinue giving lectures, but