The search to fill the vacant advisor to black students position began in February, Satterlund said. Former advisor to black students Quantrell Willis resigned in November 2011 after five months at the College in order to have more time to spend with his family.
The search committee, chaired by Satterlund, interviewed 10 candidates by phone and then invited four to campus for interviews during the first week of June, she said. The committee also included African and African-American studies program chair and professor Antonio Tillis, former program director for the Black Business Association Derikka Mobley '10, Collis program coordinator Shayla Mars '11, President of the Afro-American Society Nikkita McPherson '13, Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity student intern Jalil Bishop '14 and Director of International Student Programs Steve Silver.
The College extended a formal offer to Mosley on June 15, and the offer was finalized on June 20, Satterlund said. As part of standard procedure, the College conducted a background check on Mosley that took 10 business days to complete, she said.
OPAL had aimed to fill the position by July 1, Satturland said in a previous interview.
The committee sought someone with experience in student development, high-achieving student advising and crisis management and who had the ability to focus on developing student leaders, Satterlund said.
The committee also wanted a candidate with a background in social justice, according to Silver.
"[Mosley} really pulled all those qualities together in one person," Silver said.
Over the past two years, the College has lost a number of minority staff members and administrators, as well as staff that assist and advise minority groups on campus. Most recently, advisor to LGBTQA students Pam Misener and her wife, Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life April Thompson, announced that they would be leaving the College in January 2013 and in August, respectively.
"Retention is complicated by a number of sociological, organizational and interpersonal factors," Satterlund said of the recent departures. "No one is retained for one single reason."
Though many factors related to staff retention are beyond OPAL's control, Satterlund said that the search committee looked for specific factors in candidates in order to find someone who will stay at the College for an extended period of time. Such factors will also be considered as OPAL fills other vacant positions, she said.
The committee aimed to choose a candidate with "an incredible skill set" who could pursue other professional opportunities at the College if he or she outgrew the OPAL role, Satterlund said.
The committee worked closely with human resources and the Dean of the College office to offer Mosley a competitive salary, according to Satterlund.
Even with these considerations, ensuring continuity of minority faculty members and staff is a community responsibility, according to Silver.
"No one office is responsible for retaining or making our diverse faculty and staff happy here," he said.
OPAL is currently in the process of hiring an advisor and assistant dean to Pan-Asian and Asian-American students, Satterlund said. The candidates will be on campus for interviews this week, and the hiring process will be completed by the first week of August. Students will have the opportunity to meet candidates at an event on Tuesday.
OPAL will host a welcome event for the community to meet Mosley when she arrives in August, Satterlund said.
"I hope the Dartmouth community will take an interest in our new staff Mosley, in particular, regardless of her background or race," Silver said. "I hope they're interested in getting to know her and the expertise she brings."
