Dartmouth College Office of Public Affairs • Press Release
Posted 08/26/09 • Media Contact: Latarsha Gatlin (603) 646-3661
Sylvia Spears has been appointed Dartmouth’s Acting Dean of the College, a position she will serve in for a period of two years. Dartmouth Provost Barry Scherr announced the appointment to the Dartmouth community last week.
Spears joined Dartmouth as Director of the Office of Pluralism and Leadership/Associate Dean of Student Life in July 2007. She subsequently also served as Acting Senior Associate Dean of the College during part of the last academic year, with responsibility for guiding academic support programs and outreach to faculty.
“I am honored to serve as Acting Dean of the College for Dartmouth,” said Spears. “I appreciate the confidence that President Kim and Provost Scherr have in my ability to lead the Dean of the College division over the next two years, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the division.”
Spears has more than 15 years of experience working in higher education at both public and private institutions, more than 12 years of combined experience in student affairs in direct practice and in the preparation of student affairs pre-professionals, and 10 years of experience in supervisory leadership roles managing complex administrative and financial functions.
One area in which Spears has particularly strong expertise is student development, with emphasis on factors that contribute to the success of students. She also has extensive experience in the development of culturally competent practices in organizational and educational settings.
Spears received a Ph.D. in Education, an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, and a B.A. in Speech Communications, all from the University of Rhode Island. Before coming to Dartmouth, she held a faculty position in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Rhode Island, where she taught courses in counseling, research methods, higher education law and cultural competence. Her background prior to teaching includes work in university settings in affirmative action/equal opportunity and multicultural student services.
Dartmouth has long believed in the importance of educating the whole person, and the offices within the Dean of the College area play an essential role in complementing and enhancing the learning that occurs inside the classroom. The Dean of the College oversees Dartmouth's outstanding student affairs programs, ranging from the nearly century-old Outing Club to Athletics, Residential Life, the Health Service and the Office for Pluralism and Leadership. The staff in the Dean's area is committed to working with students to help them make the most of their Dartmouth experience. (Click to the right on "About Us" for complete list of departments within the Dean of the College division.)
