Richard ('Ricky') Tomczak
Director of Faculty Engagement,
Division of Undergraduate Education
Start Date: May 19, 2022
Richard (‘Ricky’) Tomczak says he’s a ‘big believer that 99 percent of life is showing up.’ And he plans to put that practice into place in his new role as Director of Faculty Engagement.
“I want faculty across campus and disciplines to know I’m here for them. I have a goal to meet with all undergraduate program directors this year [he’s got a spreadsheet]. And I plan to be at events – everything from creative writing seminars to faculty engagement events – to show I care.”
Ricky also wants faculty to know he’s ready to have conversations about how he can
help them with their grant writing, their curriculum development, their research and
their teaching. “I want to help them meet their goals, and I want to listen to any
challenges they may be facing and try to address them, together.”
‘Engagement’ to Ricky means both recruiting faculty for Undergraduate education programs
and, more importantly, asking what he can do for them. He’ll also be looking to help
expand and enhance programs in undergraduate education and launch a pilot faculty
fellows program.
Ricky completed his PhD in History at Stony Brook in August 2021, noting that the
University’s unique ‘thematic-based’ curriculum was more appealing to him than most
others’ single discipline offerings. “There’s a very interesting synergy when you’re
able to take courses outside of your specific area of study.”
During his studies, he taught as a part-time lecturer in History and Social Studies
Education, two departments he continues to teach in today. Upon receiving his PhD,
he worked in the Office of Proposal Development within the Office of the Vice President
of Research, where he became involved in the realm of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math).
Through his teaching and mentoring, and by working and talking with faculty researchers
in disciplines ranging from STEM, to the Humanities, to Arts and Sciences, “I learned
the language of it all and developed, I think, a unique skillset. I understand how
each world works. And I know how faculty researchers talk to each other. Now I get
to work with them, even as I continue doing the teaching I love, including helping
educate future teachers.”
Asked what he’s most excited about, Ricky says, “I’m excited about it all, I think.”
He adds that both he and his wife, Zuccaire Gallery’s Georgia Lamair, “both love working
here.”