On Tuesday, Feb. 16, a search committee at Swarthmore College announced that Mount Holyoke Dean of Students Liz Braun would begin serving as Swarthmore’s Dean of Students starting in July.
From 1999-2003, she served as Director of Residential Life. As Dean, Braun supervised Residential Life, Student Programs and Disability Services. She also organized Orientation and the new Pre-Orientation program.
“She has the needs of the students at heart,” said Orientation Intern Chiedza Mufunde ’12. “Working with Liz and the Orientation team last summer truly affirmed my love for Mount Holyoke…I really value how much she has shaped Orientation and her leadership will always be cherished.”
“This loss will certainly be felt by our community. In particular, we’ll miss Dean Braun’s deep understanding of the importance of cross-cultural and cross-racial dialogue,” said Maureen Halton ’10. “It’s unfortunate that she’s leaving so soon after the pilot white student orientation program and will be unable to further develop that program and other similar endeavors.”
“I’ll miss her,” said Priscilla Gee ’11, who volunteered at Orientation. “Every time I see her, although I don’t know her personally, she is always enthusiastic. She helped the campus to be a fun place.”
“I never got the chance to meet her,” said Sharanya Shankar ’13, “but I’m so sad that she’s leaving before I am.”
Braun also worked closely with the Dean of the College to plan educational and extra-curricular activities.
“Her work with diversity and intergroup dialogue has always been understood to teach people better ways to have discussions, especially about difficult subjects, in classrooms,” said Dean of the College Penny Gill. “She has assisted with academic advising, with planning various student activities and with training of Student Advisers to also serve as the first line of academic advising.”
Braun co-hosted and helped to coordinate the 2007 New England Deans Meeting, as well as a conference for administrators to discuss best practices in promoting intergroup dialogue.
Swarthmore President Rebecca Chopp commented on Braun’s tenure at Mount Holyoke in an e-mail to the Swarthmore community.
“She is highly regarded in her field as an emerging leader in the areas of academic support, diversity and community building. She also shares with us a deep appreciation and respect for intellectual rigor and the power of community and inclusivity,” said Chopp.
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- Dean of College to leave office
- Two administrators to leave next semester
- Pre-orientation criticized by others but acclaimed by students
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