New Dean of Students wants to shake hands with every student

By Sofia Montoya-Deck

On Feb. 19, Hood’s new Dean of Students, Demetrius Johnson, introduced himself to a student for the 574^th time since he came to his position on Dec. 4.

Johnson’s goal is to meet every Hood student before spring break. “That has been easy,” he said. “Students are now bringing other students into the office to say ‘You’ve not met my friend.’ That response from students is my absolute favorite thing.”

Before coming to Hood, Johnson left his previous role as vice president for Student Affairs at Bowie State University to start and run his own company. “After coaching professionals on higher intelligence, I really missed higher education,” he said. “I really missed the work we do together and that kind of partnership you can have with students; you just can’t get that any place else. I only wanted to return to higher-ed at a small school where I could build really personal relationships with colleagues and students, and Hood provides me that opportunity.”

Johnson’s overarching goal as dean is to remake the student experience from the moment they arrive at Hood.

In his first month at the school, Johnson returned to campus every night after work. “What I learned, coming back in the evenings, coming back on the weekends, is that students need more options,” he said. “Students need more events, students need more fun on our campus, and we have all the raw materials to make those things happen.” According to Johnson, the next step is an increase in students’ willingness to say yes.

This semester, revisions have been made to Hood emails in that students no longer receive mass messages advertising events on campus. Rather, students should use their Pergola Connect accounts to view the events that are posted by clubs and organizations. Despite a major increase in events being posted on Pergola Connect, the challenge of getting students on campus active and in attendance remains a struggle.

Johnson hopes to remedy this issue by pulling a report each week of student activity on Pergola Connect, and honing in on students who haven’t attended any campus events. He then plans to reach out to these students to offer help and ensure their well-being. “I’m interested in knowing what student hasn’t come to anything because that tells me that student might need outreach,” he said. “No Hood student should ever be alone unless they choose it. And if they are, I’m going to knock on their door.”

Johnson’s consideration for the student body is further displayed by his venture to deliver a handwritten birthday card to every student. “Students need to understand: I want to know you; I want to shake your hand; I want to ask you if I can help you,” Johnson said. “I’m going to do what it takes to help make sure this is a full experience for you.”

In another initiative of Johnson’s, resident students will be receiving a card outside of their door asking them to donate a meal swipe to commuter students. Once enough meal swipes are acquired, commuters will be able to come to the student life office for a dining card to have a meal in the dining hall. This initiative is meant to target those students who may be food insecure. “There will be no hungry Hood student,” Johnson stated.

Johnson also aims to revitalize the Gambrill gymnasium for activities such as a 3 v. 3 basketball tournament, a flag football league and a Hood cheerleading squad. “We’ll create the kind of Hood community that everybody wants,” Johnson said. “People just have to participate and say yes.”

Outside of Hood, Johnson cherishes time with his wife, two daughters and son. “They are the purpose of my existence,” he said of his family. “There almost isn’t anything else about me that’s more important than that.”

After his first few months at the school, Johnson said he is extremely grateful for the Hood community. “I just adore our students,” he said. “Students have disagreed with me, they have taught me, they have embraced me, they have debated me, they have been true partners in helping me to understand Hood, understand our students and give me direction for what we need to do next. They have been, as a whole, fantastic partners.”

Johnson said he hopes that the student body will work with him to ensure his initiatives can be a success. “Our students are working really, really hard all the time,” he said. “I’m trying to make it a little easier for them to say yes to the right things. If students will just say yes, we will reshape their experience at Hood in the way in which they think it should be.”