Huang's Staying At CMC

Huang's Going to Continue to Paark His Caar Heah

Dear CMC Students,

I’m writing to discuss the rumors that I am leaving CMC to take a similar position at another college.

Most of you know that I grew up in the Northeast. Because of my obnoxious support of the Boston Red Sox, the fact that I talk with my hands, or that profanity occasionally slips out of my mouth, it’s difficult for me to hide my northeastern roots. My family is still in Massachusetts and New England. So when an executive search firm asked me to consider applying for a position, I did.

Since then, I have received many expressions of support. President Gann, Chair of the Board of Trustees Harry McMahon, and many others have tried to convince me that my work is valued at CMC. Shamil’s Facebook page was a really thoughtful tribute. I have felt more love from CMC in the last month than I can possibly describe. Thank you.

Last week, I was offered the job of Dean of Students at Amherst College. It was a dream that I had waited 20 years to come true. Except…

I’ve come to love CMC more. I’ve realized how lucky I am to wake up and do something I love in a place that I love.

So this morning I informed Amherst President Tony Marx and President Gann that I will be staying at CMC. I need to reiterate that I have nothing but high regard for Amherst College. It’s just that I don’t love Amherst the way I do CMC. I honestly regret that it took me this long to come to this conclusion, and apologize if this controversy has been a distraction.

In the coming weeks and months, we’re going to have a little transition in my office that was already underway when all of this business happened. Mary Spellman will be our new Dean of Students and I think you are going to find that she’s a star. I will be the Vice President for Student Affairs. I will work closely with Mary to get her going, then later I will take a brief sabbatical to complete my doctoral dissertation. Once that is completed, I will focus 100% of my attention on making the CMC experience as excellent as I possibly can. I feel like I have a new attitude, a new source of strength, and a desire to make CMC the envy of everyone. CMC isn’t perfect, and neither am I, but I like our chances together.

I will leave you with a quote from a poet of your generation that captures how I’m feeling:

“Cause we belong together now, yeah,
Forever united here somehow, yeah,
You got a piece of me,
And honestly,
My life would suck without you."


Best wishes,


Jeff Huang

Vice President for Student Affairs



You may now begin blogging.