Robert Cremins

When he began in the Honors College nearly two years ago, Robert Cremins said he was “delighted and excited” to be joining the Human Situation teaching team. A few semesters later, professor Cremins’ enthusiasm has made him part of the life of the College: leading study abroad trips, working with the recruiting and admissions committees, and helping to launch the Writing Craft Talk series as part of the College’s writing initiative.

This semester, Cremins has taken on an expanded role—one that is new to the College—as a second academic advisor. He has already “jumped in at the deep end” by working on graduation certifications, “learning the grammar of our degree plans,” participating in priority advising week, and opening his schedule for general advising and walk-in appointments.

The primary focus of this new position, however, will be advising for the College’s three minor programs. The minors are growing by leaps and bounds and will continue to do so. In addition to the 50 alumni who have already graduated from the minor programs, there are 150 students currently enrolled in the programs—in , 30 students joined the minors; by 2011, over 100 students entered. Combine the growth of these programs with the growth of the College as a whole, and it was definitely time to add another advisor to serve the needs of the students. Assistant dean Jodie Köszegi said, “Robert is a great complement to our advising team. His calming presence and great sense of humor immediately put students at ease. His extensive teaching experience will enhance and inform his work on behalf of the Honors minors, both as an advisor and in providing program support to our teaching faculty.”

Cremins will take an active role in the minor programs, from helping the directors manage the programs’ growth and development to assisting with recruiting new students into the programs. “We get a lot of people coming for general academic advising, and we can match up someone who has a strong interest in one of these areas with the right minor program,” Cremins said.

Cremins sees two aspects to his work with the students. “Part of it is the very practical nuts and bolts part of the business—the mechanical aspect—and part of it is mentoring, trying to understand the vocational interest of the students,” Cremins explained.

This two-pronged approach to working with the students mirrors what he sees as his role in the College. Similar to what he experienced in Jesuit education, he sees his job as a balance between the “cura personalis,” or care of each complete student, balanced with the “cura apostolica,” or care of the overall mission of the College and its programs. Cremins, who will continue to teach in The Human Situation, will take advising appointments on a walk-in basis on Fridays and by appointment on Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.