Each year Homecoming weekend welcomes the new freshmen class to Dartmouth. This year, the Class of 2015 will be joined by another new addition to the College Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson. Johnson said in an interview with The Dartmouth that she is excited to participate in the many events that will take place over this upcoming weekend.
"I am happily anticipating my first Dartmouth Homecoming and looking forward to attending long-standing traditions like the bonfire and the many athletic events including the football game," Johnson said. "This is an exciting time for the community and we should all remember to be safe, take care of one another and have fun."
The College first announced Johnson's appointment in the beginning of June, and she replaced acting Dean of the College Sylvia Spears on July 21. Johnson left her post as vice president and Dean of the College at Colgate University to assume the position at Dartmouth.
Nishreen Ali '12, one of the moderators of Palaeopitus Senior Society, said that the group of senior campus leaders has suggested to Johnson that she participate in the run around the bonfire, but she has not yet confirmed whether she will participate.
Other than attending the bonfire and football game, Johnson's schedule for the weekend has not been finalized, though she plans to attend "many" Dartmouth alumni events, according to Sarah Morgan, executive assistant to the Dean of the College.
"[Johnson] is just so jazzed to be a part of Dartmouth that she can't wait to participate in as many events as possible," Morgan said. "She and her husband really love sports and have been going to all the football games that they can, so that's something she's really excited for."
Students interviewed by The Dartmouth said that Homecoming will be an important event for Johnson because she can introduce herself to undergraduate students who may not be familiar with her so early in the Fall term. Christian Brandt '12, a Paleopitus moderator, said that Johnson could use the weekend to share her plans for the College with the broader Dartmouth community.
"Homecoming is arguably the most important of the three big holidays, just because it's the first one that freshmen experience, and the most alumni come back that weekend," Brandt said. "It's important for Dean Johnson because it's also her first opportunity for her to tell the College what she's about."
The weekend will also be a chance for Johnson to experience campus traditions first-hand, according to Anoush Arakelian '14.
"She's probably heard a lot about how exciting the campus is, but this will be her first big weekend as dean," Arakelian said. "It's a time with a lot of alumni on campus so it will be good for her to see how the alumni network works and how strong the College is after you graduate. And of course, she'll get to see how awesome it is to be a part of Dartmouth's freshmen class."
While Johnson is new to Dartmouth's specific Homecoming style, she is no stranger to the bonfire tradition Colgate's Homecoming celebration has included a bonfire since "the early 19th century," according to Vicky Stone, senior administrative assistant in Colgate's Alumni Relations office.
"The night before our football game always features a bonfire that's a big hit with students but not necessarily alumni," Stein said. "No one runs around it, but we serve pie and hot cocoa and this year we had a band."
The university's Homecoming which took place last weekend provided an opportunity for "a few select groups" to return to campus for reunions, including former members of the men's basketball and lacross teams, Stein said.
Because Johnson has been particularly busy since her arrival on campus, Homecoming could provide a special opportunity for her to meet with students and alumni while the campus is so full, Brandt said.
While students will notice Johnson at Homecoming, the extent to which they learn about their new dean will depend in large part on the Dean of the College Office's efforts, Ali said.
"This is interesting because it's her first year and students are so used to [former acting Dean of the College] Silvia Spears," Ali said. "It really depends on how much effort her office is going to put in to help introduce her."
Regardless of the Dean of the College Office's efforts to reach out to the College's student base, alumni will most likely be more interested in meeting Johnson than will students, Brandt said. Students are typically more interested in the social aspects of the weekend than meeting College administrators, he said.
Ali said that overall, the weekend probably will not have a lasting effect on the campus's impression of the new dean.
"I don't think we'll see any huge change or anything out of the ordinary," Ali said.
