Jody Asbury, Director of the Interfaith Chapel, has become Acting Dean Of Students at The College after the resignation of Mary-Beth Cooper last month, who is leaving to become the Vice President of Student affairs of RIT where she is an alumni.
Dean of The College William Green said that choosing Asbury for the position was a “natural decision because she is experienced and is superb with students.”
With her additional position of Acting Dean of Students, she will be primarly in charge of student affairs and emergencies. This includes attending to groups or individual students and their personal needs. “She is the chief student affairs officer in The College,” Green said.
Asbury will be working closely with Associate Dean of Students Ken Rockensies to set up a committee that will review and oversee the judicial system at UR. She said that the focus would be mediation. “I hope that the system responds to the different needs of different groups,” she said.
She will also be working with Director of Student Activities Rob Rouzer to oversee Dining Services and Wilson Commons affairs.
While taking up the traditional responsibilities of the Dean of Students, Asbury will continue to be Director of the Interfaith Chapel and in charge of the Community Service Program. She is also involved with a number of student activity groups on campus, such as the Diversity Roundtable, leadership programs and freshman student councils.
“There isn’t anyone better for the position,” said Take Five Scholar Melinda Fountain, who worked with Asbury for the Rochester Revue.
“I love students’ ideas and energy at the UR,” Asbury said. She said that her new position is not very much different from her current one because it still involves her working with students and their expressing themselves through various programs. She said she sees the position as an “extension” of her previous job.
Dean of the College Faculty Thomas LeBlanc said that he is confident that she can handle the additional responsibilities.
“We’re very lucky to have someone of such caliber and skill,” Green said.
Samtani can be reached at asamtani@campustimes.org.
