An avid traveler, music lover and football fan, Class of 1997 Dean Teoby Gomez has eclectic interests that go far beyond his office in Parkhurst administration building.
Outside Parkhurst
A Cuban native, who moved to Chicago at the age of six, Gomez still has a strong appetite for travel both domestically and internationally.
He said his favorite trip of all time was when he visited Nairobi and Kenya last summer.
"Africa was just so different from anything I had expected," he said. "It was wonderful. I came back with a greater appreciation of the sort of culture shock that our students from Africa have when they come here."
Gomez said he has also traveled throughout Europe, Mexico, parts of Canada and the Caribbean.
As a domestic traveler, Gomez recently went to see the Grand Canyon and his most recent trip was to Seattle, Wash.
Gomez also described himself as a "sports junkie."
"I love watching sports live," he said. "I try to attend many [Dartmouth] athletic events. I also watch sports on T.V."
At Waukegan High School in Waukegan, Ill., the 6'3" Gomez played both football and basketball. He said he flirted with shot-put, but he was not very good at it.
He continued playing football at the University of Illinois at Champagne Urbana.
"I did it on a bet," he said. "I wasn't good enough to be recruited. I was bet that I couldn't make it. I got to play a sport I enjoyed and prove to myself I could do that."
But Gomez said he had to quit playing after two years because he was having trouble balancing sports with academics.
"I just knew my grades were going to suffer," he said.Interactions with 'his' class
Gomez began at Dartmouth in 1992 as the dean for the Class of 1994 during its junior year.
After his first two-and-a-half years at the College, Gomez said he does not see himself leaving "in the foreseeable future."
Citing the number of students who have come to him with ideas for starting new campus publications, creating non-alcoholic programming and forming undergraduate societies, Gomez described the Class of 1997 as having "a lot of initiative."
He also said he has enjoyed listening to students discuss their ideas for academic research.
Gomez said his goal for interacting with the Class of 1997 is basically to get to know as many students as possible.
"Interacting with students is so interesting," he said. "I learn so much from students."
He said his favorite part of his job is seeing students' ideas "come to fruition."
Gomez is very eager to get to know students, Class of 1997 President Pam Saunders said.
"He's very enthusiastic about Class Council," she said. "He tries to come to our Class Council meetings and be involved."
Saunders said Gomez has been very interested in trying to get class activities together.
"He's so open minded," Saunders said. "He listens. He's so helpful. He pretty much knows the ins and outs of the College and tells it like it is."
But Gomez said he wishes he had time to create more programs.
Two years ago, Gomez started a peer advising program called "Student Assistants to the Dean."
He said the program has not been publicized enough and will probably change its name by next fall.
"I wish we had more time to do that sort of thing," he said.
Gomez described himself as a resource with regard to academic, personal and social issues for the Class of 1997.
He said he wants to help students "make the most out of this place," he said. "I either know the answers to their questions or know whom to refer the student to."For more than getting 'Parkhursted'
But Gomez said some students do not see him as a resource, but instead, as a disciplinarian.
"The biggest misconception is that all we do is discipline related activities," he said. "That isn't at all true."
Saunders also said she thinks many students view Gomez as a disciplinarian.
"I don't think '97s take advantage of what he has to offer," Saunders said. "He's not there really for disciplinary action."
Gomez said the Dean of the College's office puts a lot of effort into combating that misinterpretation.
"As class dean, I'm always going out to residential halls, fraternities and other events," he said. At these events, Gomez said his goal is to get more students to recognize him as a resource.
The peer tutoring program he has helped create along with having worked as a student intern in the office helps to counter these misconceptions as well, he said.
But he described the process of explaining his role as never-ending.
Each year you have a new group of students who come from high school," Gomez said, "It takes time for them to come to realize that the deans are really a great resource."Sophomore summer
Sitting in his short sleeved button down shirt without a tie, Gomez said he personally feels relaxed in the summer because he loves the weather, but said his workload is not any lighter.
Gomez said his goals for this summer included getting the class to "bond as a group" and to take its academics seriously during summer.
He said he was concerned when he heard one student say "I wish it would rain so I can get some reading done."
"I am afraid some students aren't spending enough time in Baker," he said. "I don't want them to fall into a hole academically."
Gomez also said he wanted to encourage the Class of 1997 to have a safe summer.
"With so many things happening down by the river front, I want students to be safe, " he said. "And to care for each other because there is that sort of relaxed feel."
This is a time when the students on campus have many fewer people to compete with over resources like Career Services, he said.
"The use of the Career Services office is particularly vital because next year students will do internships."
Making a jabbing motion with his elbow, Gomez said he is here to "remind students that their academics are what they're here for."
