Rickey Stevens

Stevens was appointed Assistant AD for Scheduling and Event Management during the summer of 2022 in a role created through the NCAA Strategic Matching Alliance Grant.

1. HOW DO YOU TEACH OR EXEMPLIFY APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING?

In my current role, I exemplify applied critical thinking by analyzing difficult situations, weighing the options, and thinking through the processes it will take to achieve the best results. At the end of the day, my department serves the RIT athletic community as a whole, and our department does a great job delivering the best results for everyone involved.

2. WHY DO YOU THINK APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING IS IMPORTANT IN YOUR DOMAIN OR ROLE?

In my role as Assistant Athletic Director for Scheduling and Event Management, applied critical thinking is essential because, in athletics, no day is the same. Changes take place frequently, and it is important to be able to prioritize competing factors. Whether in my role, or my department, it is important to think things through as thoroughly as possible before acting because we always want to keep in mind that we are upholding a standard for everyone that RIT athletics encounters. Our decisions impact multiple groups of people, and it is pertinent that we reflect on the outcome of our actions before making them. 

3. CAN YOU SHARE A STORY WHERE QUALITY APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING WAS KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS?

Over the past nine months working here at RIT, I believe quality applied critical thinking is something that takes place every day. Whether serving as the liaison for visiting institutions, overseeing scheduling within our department, being the space owner of our athletic facilities, or supervising and working with our great students, all situations I face allow me to practice critical thinking daily. Being able to identify the situation, gather the data, objectively review and analyze the information, and then actively make successful decisions has been the key to success not only in the workplace but life in general. 

4. HOW DO YOU USE CRITICAL THINKING IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE OF RIT?

Every day, we all utilize forms of critical thinking. In my personal life, I am continually working on thinking analytically, communicating effectively, having an open mind, thinking creatively, and asking as many thoughtful questions as possible. This mindset has allowed me to grow and has helped me tremendously in every aspect of my life. When I encounter certain situations, being able to stop, analyze, and think clearly and systematically before acting has been the key to success in many decisions made thus far. 

5. ANY LAST CRITICAL THOUGHTS YOU WISH TO SHARE?

Critical thinking is essential to success. Over time I have learned that thinking through all details is key, and sometimes we make decisions that do not work out, for example, moving a game time for weather purposes and then the weather changes. These moments, however, are always used as learning experiences to further apply critical thinking as we move forward in our day-to-day lives.