printable versionStudent Affairs honors manager in Registrar’s Office with award
BY MICHAEL PEÑA
Philip Spitz
Philip Spitz, student services manager in the Registrar's Office, received the Margaret Ann Fidler Award for Distinguished Service in Student Affairs last week. The award's namesake, a former associate vice provost for student affairs who retired in 2001, presented the award at the conclusion of the monthly division-wide student affairs staff meeting in Tresidder Union's Oak Lounge on May 9.
The award, in its fifth year, recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary integrity, dedication to student affairs and the mission of the university, and commitment to teamwork. Greg Boardman, vice provost and dean of student affairs, helped present the award, which included a framed certificate and a $500 bonus.
As in years past, the winner was not informed before the meeting. Spitz said, however, that University Registrar Roger Printup strongly urged managers in his office to attend because emergency preparedness was going to be discussed. So, Spitz said, when the presenters announced his name, he was completely surprised. They said students consider him the friendliest administrator they have ever met.
"I really view it as an award to share amongst all of student affairs," Spitz said. "It really is a collaborative team effort."
Spitz oversees degree progress and enrollment services in the Registrar's Office, where he first started as a temporary worker in the fall of 1985. A permanent position opened up in January 1986 and there he remained for just over a decade. In the fall of 1996, he tried a career change and left Stanford for a sales position at a local financial services firm. He sometimes had to work at night or travel, so in order to have more family time again, he came back to the Registrar's Office in November 1999.
But his ties to the Farm run even deeper. His father, Lewis Spitz, was the first holder of the William R. Kenan Professorship in history, as well as a former associate dean in the School of Humanities and Sciences. Lewis Spitz taught Renaissance and Reformation history at Stanford for about 30 years. He died in December 1999 at the age of 77.
Philip Spitz was born in 1962 at the Stanford University Hospital. He grew up on campus and attended public schools in Palo Alto, eventually becoming a co-terminal student at Stanford. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1984 and his master's degree in 1985, both in history.
"My brother teases me that I'm leading the medieval existence," Spitz joked. "I'm going to be born, live, marry and die all within 5 miles of the same spot. Most people in the Middle Ages did that."
Spitz does, however, live a little farther away than 5 miles from campus. He, his wife and their two young daughters live in Fremont, where he devotes much of his free time to his church. Spitz said that he is grateful to be working in a setting where his service-oriented nature is valued as well.
These days, modern technology and his current managerial role have reduced much of the face-to-face interaction that used to come with the job. Still, with each new class that is admitted, another set of students walk in, call or send an e-mail with the same questions about their records or about missing this deadline or that. Through it all, Spitz said, he aims to be pleasant, friendly and compassionate.
"Like they always say, it's the millionth time you've heard the question, but it's the first time that student has asked the question," Spitz said. "So I always try to keep that in mind."