Director of Auxiliary Services Manny Cunard has suddenly resigned after a four-year tenure. Cunard’s legacy at the University includes the RIDE, the one-card program, and many changes in campus dining services.
After several months of deliberation, Cunard informed the administration of his decision in mid-March, and the community was informed by an all-campus e-mail sent out by Vice President and Secretary Peter Patton on March 27.
“The conditions were such that they were right for me to leave,” Cunard said by telephone.
Cunard’s daughter and granddaughter recently moved to Virginia, and Cunard plans to visit them often while returning to full-time consulting work.
As he left the University, Cunard offered some words of advice.
“It’s important that the University continue to support an improved dining program,” Cunard said. “We need to do a much better job, but I believe we’re getting there.”
Cunard’s position will not be replaced. Instead, his responsibilities will be redistributed among current staff members.
“We’re evaluating a reorganization,” Patton said. “A lot got accumulated under Manny that under different circumstances would have gone elsewhere.”
As the University reduces endowment spending, open positions will be scrutinized for cost effectiveness.
“The whole model for reduction in staff is opportunistic,” Patton said.
Cunard’s position presents a particular problem because the scope of his duties was particularly broad, and he was often relied upon to develop ideas. Cunard speculated that the proposed redistribution will be detrimental to the University.
“I think something will get lost,” Cunard said. “The University will lose a level of commitment to support its priorities.”
“I would hope that we still have ways of finding out how we can do better,” Patton said. “We’ve got a lot of creative people who know how fix things.”
Patton mentioned that the University will hire an outside consultant to fill Cunard’s role in evaluating and identifying a dining service provider. Aramark’s contract expires at the end of the next academic year, and Cunard played a crucial role with the Dining Services Advisory Committee of the WSA in the search for a replacement. Peg Rogers, a consultant who worked on with the University on the new Usdan Campus Center design, will be hired to work with students and evaluate the committee’s proposals.
Cunard was satisfied with the progress the committee had made.
“The Dining Services Committee did a good job of identifying issues in the [The Concept of Dining Purpose Statement],” Cunard said. “If [the administration] continues to support [the statement] they’ll end up with a strong program.”
During his time at the University, Cunard also worked with the campus Habitat for Humanity program.
“I’m hopeful the University will commit itself to an annual Habitat House,” he said.
Over the last year, the University has seen Vice President of Finance and Administration Marcia Bromberg, Director of Public Safety Mayann Wiggin, and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Judith Brown leave their administrative posts. Patton stressed that the University’s turnover is normal.
“We have 40 to 60 job openings each year,” Patton said. “People have stepped in very effectively.”
Patton expressed gratitude on behalf of the administration for Cunard’s work.
“He straightened out so many areas,” Patton said.
Cunard looks back positively on his experience at the University.
“I worked hard to provide better service to students,” he said.
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