Salcedo to Replace Interim Weatherspoon as New Dean of Multicultural Affairs

Associate Dean of Faculty Rosanna Salcedo will replce Russell Weathersponn as the Dean of Multicultural Affairs beginning this summer.After the position opened in the fall of 2013, the Academy asked Weatherspoon to take over the position temporarily as they searched for a new candidate, and Weatherspoon has served as interim dean for the past two years.“Mr. Weatherspoon has a lot of experience, and he has done a lot of dean work, which is tough,” said Melissa Mischke, dean of students and head of the committee that selected Salcedo. “It takes a lot of time, day or night, and in a moment where we really needed a multicultural dean we asked him, and he graciously accepted. He has done a great job, but now it is time for someone to fill the spot permanently.”Charged with the task of finding a person to fill the position permanently, Principal Hassan assembled a committee in consultation with Dean Mischke that featured two faculty members, former Dean of Students Kathleen Brownback and modern languages instructor Elena Gosalvez-Blanco.“These are people that work a lot with students in a wide range of ways, and we thought they would be a good selection team,” Mischke said.After faculty either nominated colleagues or self-nominated, they submitted a resume and a statement of interest. The committee then discussed the application with various groups, including the heads of multicultural groups and the deans. “We also discussed with Ms. Knapp, the international student coordinator, who works under the multicultural dean,” Mischke said. “We tried to talk to as many people [as possible] who have an interest in the qualities and responsibilities of the next dean.”Lastly, after interviewing every candidate, the committee met to deliberate who would be the best fit, if it was the right time in the applicant’s career, and if it was the right time for the Academy.“This process, after gathering all the information, took a week and a half to finish. We really wanted to move it along, because departments run the process of hiring, and the department of whoever became the new dean would need to hire one more faculty for the coming academic year,” Mischke said.After deliberation over many strong candidates, Salcedo was chosen for her impressive experience as an administrator and her strong relationship with student groups that work alongside the dean of multicultural affairs.“There are many reasons for choosing Ms. Salcedo, but she has experience here at the school and also experience in a leadership position, since she has been the associate dean of faculty for the last three years,” Mischke said. “She also possesses experience with students and some of the students groups that are affiliated with the multicultural office, and an interest in working with students of color as well as issues of social equity and diversity.”Salcedo’s past as a dorm head and teacher, as well as her genial demeanor, make her all the more fitting for the position, according to Gosalvez-Blanco.“Ms. Salcedo brings a lot to this position. Her experience teaching and being dorm head during years means that she is connected with students and their needs. She also has ample administrative experience so she knows all aspects of Exeter very well,” Gosalvez-Blanco said. “I think she will be an approachable and helpful dean that students will trust and go to with questions and issues, since she is a friendly, energetic and positive person.”In addition to her experience in various leadership roles, Salcedo possesses a certain nature that makes her apt for the spot.“Ms. Salcedo seems to be a very good fit for the dean of multicultural affairs position not only because she has accumulated a lot of experience from serving as an administrator for a good number of years at our school, but also because she has high organizational skills, is not afraid of challenges, and has a clear mind that should help her find a good direction for the position she is going to take,” modern languages instructor Fermin Perez-Andreau said.Modern languages instructor Viviana Santos, who has known Ms. Salcedo for the past 13 years, added, “She is a thoughtful and compassionate teacher and her relationships to both students and faculty are positive and respectful. I believe she has a unique perspective to bring to the position of multicultural dean, given both her previous work at the Academy and her personal background.”Salcedo is looking forward to impacting the community in a meaningful way through her new role. “Over the years, I have been able to connect with students and serve the Academy in a variety ways, and that has been extremely fulfilling,” Salcedo said.Salcedo continued, “In Assembly yesterday, Marc Gafni talked about each of us having ‘unique gifts’ and I believe this is true. We each have the ability to make unique contributions to Exeter, and when there is a need that I think I can fill with my own abilities, I offer myself to that role.”Salcedo will take over the position at the fiscal year transition this July 2. Until then, she will be working closely with current Dean Weatherspoon in order to transition into the new role and hit the ground running this fall.“I want to make the Office of Multicultural Affairs a resource for the entire school community,” Salcedo said. “I want it to be a place where students can find support in the widest sense. I also hope to create programing and initiatives that will further the Academy's goals for equity, inclusion, and a place where we talk about Exeter's role in promoting social justice.”Santos believed that Salcedo’s high goals will be met effectively under her guidance in the upcoming years.“Although I will personally miss her presence in Department Meetings and in the hallways of Phillips Hall, I believe that our students will continue to benefit from her guidance,” Santos said. “In this position she will be a resource to a larger number of students who in turn will benefit from her ideas, her enthusiasm and her experiences.”