For James Larimore, the first year as Dean of the College has simply flown by.
When asked how well he felt he had performed as dean, Larimore summed up his busy year at Dartmouth: "I don't think that I've even had time to think about it," he said.
From the Student Life Initiative decision to the Phi Delta Alpha fraternity derecognition, Larimore has led Dartmouth through one of the most eventful years in the College's history.
"This past year has gone by so quickly," Larimore said. "I have found Dartmouth very open and welcoming."
Whether it has been meeting student organization leaders in a formal setting or having them over to his house for an informal dinner, Larimore said he has most enjoyed his interaction with students.
He said he was particularly pleased by the degree and quality of student input about the College's social and residential life during the course of the entire year.
"What was very impressive," Larimore said, "was the in way in which students took up the challenge" in discussing contentious issues about campus life and the Initiative.
Reminiscing about the past year, Larimore said, "As a new-comer, whether as a first-year dean or a first-year student, [Dartmouth] has been challenging, yet reassuring."
Speaking after completing his first year as dean, Larimore described the College as "a great place determined to get even better."
He said he is particularly appreciative of the close relationships students have with faculty on campus -- something he hopes will continue in the future.
He added, however, that Dartmouth is seriously rethinking and trying to improve its student residential experience -- by instituting changes like increasing social space and increasing responsibilties of undergraduate advisors.
Larimore said his biggest shortcoming this past year was time constraints and "his ability to focus and sustain attention."
He, in fact, plans to work this summer on improving his time management.
Whether taking a walk down Main Street to Lou's Restaurant with his wife Karen or simply appreciating the small, campus town, Larimore enjoys his time here and described Hanover as a "wonderful place to be."
"This is an easy place to make and develop friendships," Larimore added.
Larimore's appointment
After former College President James Freedman announced his resignation in the fall of 1997, many other administrators followed, most to assume bigger roles at other colleges.
One of the most prominent departures was that of former Dean of the College Lee Pelton.
Pelton had served as dean for eight years and was well known around campus, whether it be for popular steps like his "Experience Dartmouth" program in the East Wheelock cluster, or for significantly less popular moves like his controversial alcohol reforms immediately prior to his departure.
To replace Pelton, who is now president of Willamette College in Oregon, the College selected what at first appeared to be an unexpected candidate for such a high-level administrative post.
Larimore, a 38-year old who was still completing his doctorate dissertation at Stanford University, was chosen and took over the position July 1.
Larimore was assistant to the provost at Stanford before coming to Dartmouth. He attended East Texas State University as an undergraduate and received his master's degree in education from Stanford.
While he had been on the West Coast for many years prior to his arrival here last year, Larimore is not without Dartmouth ties. From 1983 to 1985, he served as assistant director of admissions. His sister Colleen graduated from Dartmouth in 1985 and also directed the College's Native American Program. His niece, Laura Duncan, is a member of the Class of 2001.
First days
Larimore's new job suddenly became more interesting with the announcement of the Trustees' controversial Social and Residential Life Initiative.
Regarding the Initiative -- which came as a surprise to most members of the Dartmouth community -- Larimore said he was not shocked by the content and message of the plan, but did not know the specifics when he was hired.
"When I spoke with [College President James] Wright back during the [1998] Fall term it was pretty clear to me that he was a president who was concerned with students' residential experience on campus," Larimore previously told The Dartmouth. "At that point I had a sense that was an issue he cared a lot about, but I hadn't met any of the Trustees at that point and I didn't know how they'd approach it. The timing and the process was a bit of a surprise."
Larimore was instantly conscious of the new importance his position would have with the Initiative debate -- the Dean of the College oversees many areas which would likely be affected by the Initiative including the Office of Residential Life, the Office of Student Life and Safety and Security among others.
Shortly after the Trustees dropped their bombshell announcement, Larimore was scheduled to give a talk to the Dartmouth Alumni Club of Silicon Valley.
Larimore said there were a lot of angry people there that night but told The Dartmouth he expressed positive opinions of the Initiative. "I thought this was a call to a very deep conversation," he said.
