Dear members of the Kenyon College community,
I am pleased to announce that Samantha Hughes, currently civil rights/Title IX coordinator, will serve as interim vice president for student affairs while the College conducts a national search for leadership of the division.
Samantha has more than 20 years of experience in student affairs and advocacy, almost all of it at Kenyon. She began her Kenyon career in the Office of Residential Life, where she focused on the first-year experience and later served as dean of residential life. She oversaw the student conduct program for 10 years, and stepped into her current role in Kenyon’s Office for Civil Rights in 2016.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to the Student Affairs Division and provide guidance to the staff as we work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition for the new vice president for student affairs,” said Hughes. “I am keenly aware of the incredibly complex year the community has navigated due to the pandemic, and I look forward to continuing important campus conversations throughout the summer and into the fall semester.”
Kevin Peterson, currently deputy civil rights/Title IX coordinator, will lead the Office for Civil Rights while Samantha serves as interim head of student affairs.
The search for a permanent appointment is underway with assistance from Storbeck Search. Sheryl Hemkin, associate provost and professor of chemistry, is serving as chair of the search committee. Other members include:
- Diane Anci, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions
- Roya Best ’22, biology
- Delaney Gallagher ’23, economics and political science
- Tom Hawks, dean of academic advising
- Sarah Heidt, associate professor of English
- Judy Holdener, professor of mathematics
- Rick Hoskins P’21, trustee
- Janet Lape Marsden, vice president for communications
- Hewlet McFarlane, professor of neuroscience
- Caleb Newman ’24, undecided
- Sonya Pryor-Jones ’94, trustee
- Beth Shuman, P’22, trustee
- Micah Smith ’22, anthropology
I am deeply grateful to these members of the Kenyon community for their time and energy in steering the search for this critical position. I also am grateful to Samantha Hughes for stepping into this role at such a pivotal time. I have had the pleasure of working with Sam in her capacity as civil rights/Title IX coordinator and know that she is guided by a commitment to equity and student self-advocacy that will serve Kenyon and its students well in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Sean Decatur
President