At the last of a series of Career Services discussions titled "Conversations on Making Career and Personal Choices," Dean of the College Lee Pelton discussed his educational background and career path. He told students to choose jobs motivated by interests and value -- money should be an afterthought.
"My grandmother, who was like a second mother to me, stressed the values of education, integrity and new opportunities," Pelton said.
He said that "money and value will come with a happy job."
He said he has never taken any professional job for financial reasons except when earning money towards a college education.
Pelton received his Ph.D. in American Literature from Harvard University after dropping out of Wichita State University in Kansas. "It took me a while to finish college because I didn't know what I wanted to do," he said.
He said his considerations for a career were varied -- at different points he considered being a comedian, a minister, a politician, a novelist, an essayist and a lawyer.
Pelton said he was drawn to educational administration after he recognized the virtues of the field -- "listening to others, intellectually honest and interest in the process structure," he said.
Before coming to Dartmouth in 1991, he served as dean of the college at Colgate University in New York. After Commencement in June, Pelton will step down as dean of the College to assume the presidency of Willamette University in Salem, Ore.
Pelton said his first year at Colgate was difficult because he
"didn't know what [he] was doing," but he said fortunately he was a quick learner.
He utilized snapshots from his career as a tool to help advise students on how to pick the right career.
He stressed the importance of having a "passion for the job."
"You have to truly enjoy and love the research and field work to succeed," Pelton said.
He also emphasized flexibility and preparation toward new opportunities when he discussed how his new job in Oregon arose unexpectedly.
Pelton said after every five years at any job, he asks himself: "Where do I want to be? What have I accomplished so far? Is there somewhere else I can also benefit and learn more from?"
