President Wippman’s Writings & Remarks

VPAA and Dean of Faculty Suzanne Keen

November 18, 2021

Tags Public Statements

Dear Members of the Hamilton Community,

Earlier today, Scripps College announced that Suzanne Keen, vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) and dean of faculty, has been named its 10th president. This appointment, which is effective July 1, 2022, is a well-deserved honor for Suzanne and a great loss for Hamilton. Scripps saw in Suzanne what we have witnessed since July 2018 at Hamilton: a highly effective scholar, teacher, and administrator with great integrity, character, and vision who works tirelessly and creatively to advance academic priorities and the primacy of the liberal arts. She advocates strongly for the faculty, always mindful of what’s best for our students.

During her time at Hamilton, Suzanne has played the lead role in hiring many outstanding faculty and staff and has put in place resources and programs that will greatly enhance the College’s long-term strength and academic standing. She has guided the faculty through implementation of student learning outcome assessments of Hamilton’s Educational Goals; contributed to our successful Middle States Reaccreditation; made significant progress on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the faculty and the academic administration; and reorganized student academic support under ALEX, including hiring the inaugural dean of engaged education.

Suzanne also created and supported AHA! groups; launched the Hamilton Academy with Terry Martinez and Joe Shelley; and raised funds to support the activities of the Humanities Center, the letterpress Book Arts program, the creation of a Special Collections outreach librarian position, and resources for new faculty positions. Throughout her time, she represented Hamilton on the Liberal Arts Collaborative for Digital Innovation (LACOL) and among the NESCAC, New York Six, and Northeast Deans organizations. She also remained an active scholar and poet, and published articles or reviews in scholarly journals.

A national search will be conducted for Suzanne’s successor with the goal of having that person join us in July. Isaacson Miller has been retained to assist with the search. If you have suggestions for possible members of the search committee, please send me a note by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 22.

We will find a time to come together later to thank Suzanne for her contributions to Hamilton. Until then, I encourage you to extend congratulations and best wishes.

David