The College recently launched a committee to find a replacement for former Director of Judicial Affairs Marcia Kelly, whose promotion to associate dean of the College for administration has left her old position temporarily occupied by interim director April Thompson.
Thompson, who served as the office's assistant director under Kelly, replaced her former boss in October. Thompson's role heading up the College's disciplinary infrastructure includes sitting in on Committee on Standards hearings and responding with students, faculty and parents.
Thompson remains unsure as to whether she will seek the permanent version of her position. Meanwhile, under her watch, the Office of Judicial Affairs is "functioning very effectively and well," said Dan Nelson, the senior associate dean of the College.
Student Body Vice President Todd Rabkin Golden '06 agreed. Rabkin Golden said he would have no concerns about Thompson taking over as the office's permanent director. Having interacted with her through his Student Assembly activities and his participation on the Committee on Standards, Golden described Thompson as "an amazing administrator and very willing to have students stop by."
Student voices, however, have not yet factored into discussions about Thompson's replacement. While only Dartmouth administrators currently sit on the search committee, students will eventually have a say in selecting the new director once the committee prepares a list of candidates.
"Once we've identified a slate of candidates who look like they have strong credentials for the position, we will bring candidates to campus for interviews and will have other colleagues and students participating," Nelson said.
The search committee held its first meeting at the beginning of Winter term, and will hold another meeting including students at the end of this term or the beginning of Spring term.
Nelson is the chair of the search committee. Besides him, members include College Proctor Harry Kinne, Leigh Remy of the First-Year Office, Deborah Golder of the Office of Residential Life and Ellen Arnold of the Office of General Counsel.
In carrying out the nationwide search, the committee will place advertisements in several professional publications and on Dartmouth's job postings website.
According to the student handbook, the director of judicial affairs must "coordinate the investigation and disposition of complaints and information concerning possible violations of the College's Standards of Conduct in conjunction with the deans in the First-Year Office and the Upper Class Deans Office."
