Geneseo's Resident Life Office is in the process of creating a new dean of Residence Life position.
With many applications and resumes in hand, the department hopes to have a decision by the end of March. The new dean would begin work in July.
About two and a half year ago, then-Director of Housing Kathy Deffenbaugh retired. Instead of immediately refilling her position the department decided to use it "as an opportunity to think of how we wanted the department structured," Vice President for Student and Campus Life Dr. Robert Bonfiglio.
The Dean of Resident Life will be in charge of the entire department, whose focus will be on the mission of the Geneseo as a residential college. Stressing that learning occurs inside and outside of the classroom, Bonfiglio stated "Geneseo is a distinctive college. It needs goals and objectives that demonstrate that distinctiveness. The idea is that the resident life program has a more integrative role on campus."
Bonfiglio explained that the school is seeking an applicant with a doctoral degree to ensure he or she can actualize the mission that pertains to the position. He or she "needs to be creative, innovative, and unafraid to try new things."
The Department's goal is to make the residence hall program both distinct and unique. "This is where we are started," said Bonfiglio. "It is possible that we will add changes. It is also possible that we will not add more changes."
The current Director of Residence Life Ralph Carrasquillo will remain in that position for the coming year.