Stefan Gunther

Stefan Gunther spent a year studying English Literature at Kent in 1986-87 on a DAAD Scholarship. He has over 30 years of academic administration experience in the US and has worked with renowned institutions, including Johns Hopkins and the University of Virginia. He is currently employed by University of Maryland Global Campus, where he supports faculty development and policy.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

I have over 30 years of experience in academic administration in the United States, for institutions as diverse as Johns Hopkins University, University of Virginia, George Washington University, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), Strayer University, DeVry University and USDA Graduate School. 

At these institutions, I have administered university-wide summer programs; developed new offerings for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies; served as the highest-ranking academic leader in the College of Business and Management; conceived and developed numerous new curriculum areas and courses; and overseen a host of faculty support and recognition programs.

For me, the unifying elements of all these positions have reflected my abiding interests: working with and supervising both adjunct and full-time faculty; serving adult and non-traditional learners; and developing and maintaining a keen interest in online education. 

I hold a PhD in English and American Literature from Brandeis University (2000) and have lived up and down the Eastern seaboard since 1987. I grew up in Germany and attended the University of Kent at Canterbury (as it was known then) in 1986-87 on a DAAD scholarship. I am married and my wife Lisa and I have one daughter (Andi) who is a junior at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.  When not working, I enjoy reading, travel, running and watching soccer and baseball (Go Red Sox!).

What does a typical work day look like for you?

My typical work day is very meeting and email heavy. In supporting faculty at UMGC (about 4,500 adjuncts and 130 full-time professors), any given day might bring activities around the main domains of activity administered by Faculty Affairs (the unit I lead).

These may include: faculty promotions; reward programs (like teaching awards and the Outstanding Faculty designation); administering the professional development fund and faculty scholarship for adjuncts; faculty grievances; faculty policies; or interfacing with co-governance bodies.

There is never a dull day!

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

There are four career highlights that I’m particularly proud of:

Firstly, at USDA Graduate School I wrote the business plan for the introduction of online courses (in 2000, when online education was truly novel!). My work included managing it’s implementation, selecting a Learning Management System, hiring faculty, and performing quality assurance.

Secondly, I conceived and implemented articulation agreements between local English as a Second Language (ESL) Schools and various academic programs at DeVry University. 

At George Washington University, I worked with academic staff to provide student-centric course offerings over the summer that would lead to faster degree completion. This incentive saw summer course enrolment increase by 15%.

Finally, I have designed implemented and secured budgetary funding for the Adjunct Faculty professional Development Fund at UMGC.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Kent helped me to understand the value of internationalising one’s viewpoint and becoming aware of the contingencies of one’s own upbringing and positions.

I am certain I would have succeeded had I never left Germany, but being able to inspect my own background from abroad and exposing myself to different ways of living, thinking and being in the world was invaluable.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

I would advise students to seek out good mentors and stay attuned to changes in your chosen field. Today most industries are more dynamic and subject to more significant evolution than even 10 years ago, and the introduction of generative AI will revolutionize many workplaces, including higher education. 

In addition, I would ensure you sharpen your awareness around changing student needs: while traditional degrees will remain a valuable currency, the demand for just-in-time, stackable, credentialing that is useful in the workforce will only increase.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

I joined the ‘Solidarity for Nicaragua!’ society and played squash.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

I don’t think I could limit myself to one memory. Given that studying at Kent was my first time living abroad, many iconic moments spring to mind.

Being able to walk into Canterbury from Eliot College and on the way back seeing the cathedral recede until it solidified into a majestic vista when viewed from the top of the hill was always special. Kent’s proximity to London also meant I was able to travel regularly for classical music concerts and to see Derek Jacobi perform in Breaking the Code.

The historic snowfall in January of 1987 was memorable as it blanketed the campus with 50cm of snow and froze us to the bone! I also fondly remember Malcolm Andrews’s lectures on the picturesque and advancing three rounds in the student squash tournament.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I would take more time to explore the surrounding countryside and Kent, including all the magnificent coastlines.

I was fortunate to partially made up for this shortcoming on a recent trip to Kent and Sussex where a friend and I scaled Beachy Head and traversed the Seven Sisters.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Very much so. I serve on the Board of University of Kent in America where I work with fellow Kent graduates to provide local programming and events for alums in the US and also sponsor an annual Fulbright Scholar to attend Kent.

Our relationships with many administrators at the university are very close and allow us to stay up to date with recent developments.

What are your future ambitions?

To complete a remote MA program in Linguistics which I recently started at Birmingham City University, to continue my support of Kent, and hopefully retire to Europe to pursue a part-time career in advising educational institutions.