Dawn Ellinwood's Visit

The search for a permanent Dean of Student Services
Three candidates were brought to campus in February and March to meet with people from different areas of campus in an attempt for both the candidate and the members of campus to learn more about each other. Each candidate had an open meeting with students and another with staff and faculty.

The following notes were taken by Ananda Valenzuela on February 26, 2008 at the open meeting for students with Dean of Students Candidate Dawn Ellinwood. These notes were an attempt to follow to the conversation, but are not a verbatim transcript. There are probably errors, there are definitely summaries, and there is also some switching around between first, second and third person on behalf of the writer. As such they are intended as supplementary source of information for individuals who would like to know more about what happened at the meeting.

If you would like to fill out an online feedback form for this candidate or any other go here. If you are writing comments for a candidate that you did not meet in person please include that somewhere on your feedback form ("additional comments" is a good place). This link will be active until March 14th (extended deadline).

Open Meeting with Students
Dawn meets with students

35 students, 3 student affairs staff

Dawn: I want to say a few things about experiences thus far on campus, question to students: what do you see as the major things this person faces, in this position?

Why Hampshire? When at uMass, understood that students at Hampshire have the opportunity to gain an educational experience that's unlike anywhere else, at an undergraduate level. Dream is to work as a dean of a small liberal arts college. This is a very special, wonderful institution- the opportunity to design own course of action!

Dawn: realizes that students are heavily involved in the governance of the college, however, there is work to be done about how that looks. Interested to hear your feelings.

Student- the student body and governing body have similar goals and wildly different approaches. You are put into a position working between these two bodies. Most important responsibility: facilitating conversation between two bodies, and finding a greater common ground. What, in your experience, is a proactive way to work and create this necessary bureaucracy?

Dawn- Student involvement looks absolutely different from other colleges. Feels goal is to develop a relationship with as many students as possible. That means listening to everyone’s experiences. This position is advocacy, and educational on both sides.

Student: Academically, the school places a lot of trust and responsibility in the hands of students. Interestingly, that trust does not apply to the rest of our life here- student life, governance, residential life. How can we take the opportunities and turn them into concrete and solid experiences? Students, when given the freedom and power, need to have the responsibility for their actions, realize that they are responsible. Students here are not allowed to make mistakes, when it comes to extracurriculars. Need to allow students to fail, make mistakes. For example, installing locks(longer description I didn’t write down), instead of speaking with students and having a dialogue with them to find the best answer. Decisions get made completely without communicating with students whatsoever.

Dawn: I don’t have the other side of the story. Her goal- find out what the concern is, what the problem is, why it is so. Then, get students’ perspective.

Student: What are some ways you envision yourself working with students beforehand?

Dawn: Get to know which students are involved, go to a meeting, speak with them about the situation, get feedback, make sure there is clear communication. But, that would take a while.

Student: What if everyone on campus wants to talk?

Dawn: Maybe have an open forum. Who knows, whatever works. At old school, students felt that the administration didn’t listen, their opinions didn’t matter. Students did not come to town hall meetings.

Student: Students become sheerly exhausted, working for activism. In order for students to be listened to, they have to take over a building. That’s the climate on campus. When we try to take responsibility for our community, there are so many roadblocks. What kind of experience/problems have you had in the past about racism, harassment? Times where students came to you, saying we need you, in opposition to administration.

Dawn: I can’t think of a specific example right now. Brings up parking example she mentions at lunch, about a student emailing her writing about problems with parking, how she intends to meet with the student as soon as possible. Wants to speak with her to get info, and then go forward with that. Need to have systems in place, structure, and policy, to ensure that communications are open and that things actually get done.

Student: I have hopes that the dean is someone students feel is supportive, can trust in during these situations, have students feel empowered rather than victimized. What is your approach to these situations?

Dawn: I feel the same way students too. Goal is to ensure that no one feels victimized or repressed. Building trust with students is key. Building trust, educational relationship, means having a student feel heard, supported, and that we move forward with whatever action they feel is necessary. Example- fact that she believed the student (who came to her saying she was harassed) was enough for the student, but wants to speak with victimizer. Need to work piece by piece.

[end]

Other Candidates

 * Linda Reimer
 * Michelle Green

back to 2007-2008 Dean of Students Search