By Sofia Montoya-Deck
The college has narrowed the search for a new dean of students to three candidates: Demetrius Johnson, former vice president at Bowie State University; Karl Koeppel, dean of students at Molloy University; and April Johnson, former chief student affairs officer and director of student affairs at Pennsylvania State University Berks.
The search began with a pool of more than 90 applicants. The search advisory committee then narrowed its focus to four candidates, one of whom has since dropped out after accepting a position at a different institution.
The school welcomed each of the remaining three candidates to a comprehensive on-campus interview, which included lunch with the search committee, an open forum with faculty and staff and introductions to the senior team, student life team and President Andrea Chapdelaine.
“We want them to have the opportunity to connect with other officers on campus that they’ll partner with on a routine basis,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Debbie Ricker said.
“We ask each of the candidates to prepare a really short presentation reflecting a student life initiative that they have designed, implemented and assessed on a prior campus,” Ricker said of the forums. “We use that as an ice breaker to inspire specific questions and to get the conversation going.”
Demetrius Johnson visited campus Nov. 1. At Bowie State University, he led crisis management efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped the school maintain an infection rate below 2%. Johnson has worked in higher education administration since 2009 and has prior experience as the dean of student success at Marymount University and the dean of student affairs/director of residence life at Dillard University.
“I am deeply excited about the opportunity to contribute to the student affairs efforts at Hood College and support the needs of students,” Johnson said on his application’s cover letter. “With a strong background in higher education leadership, student affairs and academic administration, I am confident in my ability to drive success for the university and elevate the student experience.”
The second candidate, Karl Koeppel, visited campus Nov. 8. He has an extensive career in student affairs and has experience in roles such as director of residence life at Hofstra University, associate dean of campus life at Elmira College and coordinator of student involvement at the University of New England. While at Elmira College, Koeppel was named the 2021 Administrator of the Year.
“Throughout my career in student affairs, I have always focused on the role and benefit of maintaining a strong connection with students throughout their time at the institution, and truly believe that this is the best way to ensure their success,” Koeppel stated on his cover letter. “One of my overall goals has always been for people to know me, know my role, and know that if they come and speak with me that I will listen and I will work to connect them to the appropriate people.”
April Johnson, the third candidate, visited campus Nov. 10. Johnson has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of higher education. At Bowie State University, she was promoted from dean of student life to assistant vice president for student affairs and has additionally held roles as the vice president for student engagement at St. Louis Community College and the director of career services at McDaniel College.
“I have worked with traditional and nontraditional students, first generation students, adult learners and students from underrepresented communities,” Johnson said on her cover letter. “I am confident that with my high-level organizational skills, coupled with my more than 19 years of student affairs, strategic leadership, budget management and student engagement experience, I could make positive, long-term contributions to this institution.”
Students and faculty who attended the forums are encouraged to fill out a feedback survey sharing their thoughts on each of the candidates. The survey will remain open until 5 p.m. Nov. 13.
According to Ricker, the search advisory committee is scheduled to meet and review the feedback soon thereafter and expects to make an offer to the chosen candidate before Thanksgiving. “My hope of all hopes is to have the dean of students here on campus on January second as we start the spring semester,” Ricker said.
The position of dean of students has been vacant since the start of the semester after former dean Ron Wiafe transitioned to a role at a university in Pennsylvania. In his absence, other faculty members have divided the responsibilities of the dean of students. Dr. Paige Eager has overseen the Office of Student Engagement and Orientation and Dr. Sue Kolb has overseen the Office of Residence Life.
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