It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Rebecca (Bekki) Lee as vice president for student affairs/dean of students, effective August 15, 2011.
Bekki Lee has been serving as the interim dean of students since July 2010, during which time the College was fortunate to find someone with her breadth of experience to provide the leadership and management of student affairs in a year of many transitions in the department. At the time of her interim appointment, I said that I know Bekki will be an effective advocate and counselor for students, and that she will encourage active communication among students and the larger Scripps College community. Bekki has more than met our expectations, and I know she will continue to move forward on strengthening our student affairs program to meet the needs of today’s Scripps student.
Bekki has a lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of college students. Before Scripps, she was associate and assistant dean of students at Amherst College for 23 years with specific expertise in promoting and supporting diversity, academic advising, student development, career advising, and residential life—experience that has greatly benefitted Scripps College. Previously, she held positions in student affairs at Oberlin College, UC Davis, and University of Pennsylvania. She received her MS in education and her BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
In making this appointment, I sought feedback from students, faculty, the student affairs staff, senior staff, trustees, and others who worked closely with Bekki Lee. She received stellar marks from each group for her work as advisor, planner, consultant, communicator, student affairs expert, and community builder, making her the clear choice for the position of the chief student affairs officer of the College.
Bekki’s sphere of responsibility is extensive: as vice president for student affairs/dean of students, she has oversight of Career Planning & Resources, academic support and student development programs, residential life, the Sallie Tiernan Field House, student activities and organizations, Scripps Communities of Resources and Empowerment (SCORE), and the central Dean of Students Office.
As many of you may know, Bekki Lee resides in Claremont, with her husband, David Hansen, the Weinberg Family Dean of Science in the W.M. Keck Science Department, and they have two daughters. Please join me in congratulating Bekki as she continues her excellent work for Scripps College as vice president for student affairs/dean of students.
Lori Bettison-Varga
President