Dan Nelson and Mary Liscinsky have presided over one of the more eventful years in Dartmouth history in their respective posts as acting dean of the College and acting dean of Residential Life, and now they are preparing to hand over their duties to their permanent successors.
From the debate over whether to lock the doors of residence halls to the Board of Trustees announcement of the Social and Residential Life Initiative, both Nelson and Liscinsky have been at the helm in two of the more controversial campus issues.
Nelson said being "the Dean of the College is the best job at Dartmouth" because one gets to work closely with students to enhance their educational experience.
Nelson will resume his former post as Senior Associate Dean of the College on July 1, when the newly appointed Dean of the College James Larimore will begin his tenure.
Improving the residential, social and academic experience of students is important, challenging and rewarding work, Nelson said, adding he has enjoyed the responsibility of doing that.
While he was unaware of the Trustee Initiative before it was announced, Nelson said he was not surprised by its announcement. Having been a Dartmouth Class of 1975 student and having worked in the Dean's office since 1987, Nelson said he expected the Initiative.
Nelson said he knew the Trustees always had an interest in enhancing the social and residential experience, adding that President Wright also spoke about it in his Inauguration address.
When asked whether the Five Principles made his job even harder, Nelson said, "It is exciting to be in this position at the beginning ... of this incredible investment" to enhance the social and residential life.
Nelson said he really appreciated the confidence College President James Wright and Nelson's colleagues showed in him as acting dean of the College, adding he is ready to hand over his position to Larimore.
Nelson, who has known Larimore for several years even before his appointment, said Larimore is a "wonderful person," who has vast experience, knows the College well and cares deeply for his work.
Nelson, who is confident of Larimore's success as dean of the College, said his advice to Larimore is to simply be himself, enjoy his work and make Dartmouth a better place.
Mary Liscinsky said "I have liked it [the temporary job] 99 percent of the time." She said working with wonderful people - both her staff and a whole different group of students - has been an exciting experience.
Liscinsky will become special assistant to the dean of the College in September after the newly appointed Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman resumes his post in July.
Liscinsky, who was assigned the temporary position in April last year, said she "certainly had not expected" the Initiative this year, adding "in Student Affairs you learn to expect the unexpected." There were many incidents - the Five Principles being the most prominent - in her job that have been very exciting, she added.
Calling the Initiative "great for students in the long run," Liscinsky said the investment allows the Office of Residential Life to do something it has always wanted to do - create more beds and raise the caliber of residential life.
Liscinsky said her position as acting dean was "a great learning experience," adding the experience will guide her in her new job which she finds equally interesting.
Referring to Martin Redman, her successor as Dean of Residential Life, Liscinsky said he is a great match for the position, adding she is confident of his success.
