Setting the Tone: Search for new Dean of Students nearing an end

Southern University is currently in the process of finalizing its search for a new Dean of Students. The previous Dean of Students, Akai Smith, was promoted in January to the role of Executive Director for the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, leaving the position of Dean of Students vacant.
Since then, three administrators have been serving as interim Dean of Students, sharing the responsibilities and role between themselves. The search for a Dean of Students has far been a relatively quick process, with plans of announcing a candidate as soon as Wednesday, February 13 according to Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Dr. Kimberly Scott. “We will, probably, have some identification of a final candidate by Wednesday,” Scott shared.
The role of Dean of Students is a vital one as the position involves interacting directly with the student body and acting as a liaison of sorts between the upper levels of administration and students. Specifically, the Dean of Students deals with student grievances, serious student-involved altercations, the approval of on and off campus events and activities, and traffic appeals.
Because of the role and responsibilities of the Dean of Students, he or she needs to be very visible and prominent on campus so that he or she can understand and meet the needs and concerns of students in addition to fostering a healthy campus community because, as Dr. Scott notes, “The Dean of Students is the person that is going to work to set the tone for the campus.”
This sentiment for the Dean of Students to be visible and well-known is echoed by freshman, Amanda Turner, from Atlanta, Georgia, “I would like to see a dean that is interactive with the students — one that pops up at different events whether to speak or just to hang out.”
It is vital that the person who assumes the role of Dean of Students is willing to make the commitment to interact extensively with the student body because, as sophomore computer science major, Delano Matthews, points out, “I think that most people don’t even know the name of the Dean of Students or what a Dean of Students does.”
The full list of candidates for the position is still currently unavailable for the public as the search committee finalizes its selection. Dr. Scott did, however, provide a short list of individuals who have thus far been considered for the position, and if the rest of the candidates are as well-educated and experienced as the individuals provided by Dr. Scott, then Southern University may be in competent hands. The list is comprised of three individuals with a total of ten different degrees and over three decades worth of experience in education and management between them.