Although President-elect Jim Yong Kim's responsibilities at Harvard University limit his ability to meet in person with Dartmouth community members, Kim has worked with College administrators and alumni to begin his transition process and will visit campus at least three times prior to his inauguration in July, according to Provost Barry Scherr.
Kim will come to Dartmouth on April 16 for an informal session with prospective students over Dimensions weekend. Kim will meet with faculty members from the Committee on Organization and Policy, the Committee on Priorities and the Committee Advisory to the President, College spokesman Roland Adams said. One or two student groups will also meet with Kim over the weekend, although those groups have yet to be determined, Scherr said.
"[Coming to Dartmouth] is a chance to have initial meetings and to get to know the community and campus," Scherr said. "He'll have some meetings and start to get familiar with issues that we face on campus."
Kim's ongoing commitments as chair of Harvard Medical School's department of social medicine and chief of the division of social medicine and health inequalities at Brigham and Women's Hospital have made it more difficult to arrange on campus meetings at the College, Scherr said.
It is unclear when Kim will officially step down from his positions in Boston. The medical school cannot release the date when Kim will leave without his permission, according to Michelle Chang, a human resources assistant at HMS.
"We're trying to squeeze these things in with his regular work, so we can't get people [to Boston] as often as we'd like," Scherr said.
Kim has met with Dartmouth administrators in Boston, Scherr said, including Dean of Faculty Carol Folt and vice president of finance and administration Adam Keller.
He also spoke with College President James Wright, vice president for Alumni Relations David Spalding '76 and Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Haldeman '70 by telephone, Scherr said.
Scherr said Kim will meet with several alumni leaders, including Alumni Council President John Daukas '84 and Association of Alumni President John Mathias '69, in Boston on April 15.
"I think we'll probably be discussing the current state of the College, and I'd like to talk with him about what makes Dartmouth so unique and great," Daukas said. "One thing that alumni can do is present President Kim with a long-term historic view. Alumni at Dartmouth are much more passionate about the institution than a lot of alumni at other colleges. We're unusual in that regard, so it's important that he understands why."
Both Mathias and Daukas said they were impressed when Kim called them from the car to introduce himself while driving from Boston to Hanover the day his selection as president was announced.
"President Kim is certainly reaching out himself," Mathias said. "David Spalding at the College and others have been helpful as well. Everyone has been trying to facilitate communication at all levels."
Officials at the College have e-mailed Kim the relevant information about existing College policies, Scherr said.
"We've sent him financial and budget information already," Scherr said.
Kim will also spend "probably a couple of days in May and a few days in June" at Dartmouth, although specific dates have not been set, Scherr said.
Renovations to the president's house on Webster Avenue will prevent the Kim family from moving in until the end of the calender year, Scherr said. The renovations include the addition of handicap access and the installation of a new heating structure.
Kim will reside in a College-owned house on Rope Ferry Road until construction is complete, Scherr said.
