Former Assistant Dean of Residential Life Carolynne Krusi will serve as Acting Dean for the Class of 1998 beginning Aug. 1, when Dean of the Class of 1998 Lisa Thum takes maternity leave.
The College announced the appointment, which was decided several weeks ago, on Tuesday.
Thum, who is expecting in August, will return at the end of Fall term.
Krusi, who is a friend of Thum's, was selected because of her background in counseling, ability to work well with students and familiarity with the College, Thum said.
Thum said she will work with Krusi for two weeks in July to her become acclimated with the responsibilities of the position of acting dean.
Krusi said she is looking forward to returning to an administrative position at the College.
"I am very excited," she said. "I am very much looking forward to it. I think Dartmouth is a wonderful place to be."
Krusi said she thought to apply for the job because she enjoys working with college students.
"It is a very exciting age," she said. "There are a lot of interesting changes taking place. It is wonderful to participate in their decision-making process."
She said she hopes to "get to know as many students as I can as early as I can."
Thum said the search committee that selected Krusi included the assistant deans of the College, Senior Associate Dean of the College Dan Nelson, the support staff of the dean's office and Thum herself.
Although the committee conducted only a local search to fill the three-month position, they received an abundance of applications, Thum said.
"I was surprised the applicant pool was so strong because the position was only temporary," Thum said.
Dean of Freshman Peter Goldsmith, a member of the committee, said he was pleased with the committee's choice.
"I liked [Krusi] quite a lot as both a person and an administrator," he said.
"It seems to me she had some terrific relative experience and more than that, I though she had an extraordinary warmth and approachable manner and that students would find her very easy to talk to."
Krusi served as Assistant Dean of Residential Life at the College from 1983 until 1987.
Since 1992, she has served as director of the Lyme School writing center for grades kindergarten through eight.
Krusi said she thinks her past experiences will serve her well when she serves as acting dean of the Class of 1998.
"Education is a lot broader than four year at the College," she said. "I perceive education as a life-long process."
