Newly appointed registrar Martina Duncan ’97 says she hopes to improve Polaris by considering feedback from students and faculty. Duncan worked in the Office of the Registrar during the initial implementation of the system and said she believes it can be improved further.
“We’re always going to continue building on our system’s functionality,” said Duncan. “Our goal is to understand what comes next and always make sure that Polaris is providing the kind of functionality to the campus that is needed.”
Dean for Academic Affairs Cristle Collins Judd announced that Duncan had been promoted registrar of the College in an e-mail sent out to students and staff on January 15. Duncan will officially transition from her current role as an associate registrar to registrar on February 2, taking over responsibilities from the Interim Registrar Jim Higginbotham, who is also a Classics professor.
Duncan’s appointment was approved by a search committee which was convened by Judd and comprised of faculty members Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Sara Dickey, Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry Anne McBride, Professor of Mathematics Adam Levy and Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs Kim Pacelli. The committee unanimously recommended Duncan’s promotion, according to Judd.
“[Duncan] has wide-ranging administrative, academic, and managerial experience; she has quickly become a valued member of the registrar’s office since her appointment as associate registrar a year ago; and she is an established and valuable member of the Bowdoin community,” wrote Judd in an e-mail to the Orient. “The committee was impressed by the depth and breadth of her experience, her problem-solving skills, and her commitment to maintaining and enhancing the excellent service the registrar’s office provides to the campus community.”
As registrar of the College, Duncan’s responsibilities will shift from chiefly academic-related duties to a focus on the student and faculty interactions with the Office of the Registrar.
“In my former position I focused more on the curricular side; now I’m trying to really learn more about the student side,” said Duncan.
“I really like working in an office that has such a great staff and I really enjoy working with all the faculty and students,” said Duncan. “I’m a Bowdoin grad so it’s nice to work in my alma mater and feel that what we do is really central to the campus.”
Due to some restructuring and shifting in the office based on the needs of the new program, no one has been appointed to take over Duncan’s former role as an associate registrar. The office recently hired Brett Bisesti as a systems specialist for the Banner program, the program that is the basis of Polaris.