PEA Welcomes Dean of Health and Wellness
Gordon Coole will assume the position of dean of student health and wellness this fall, leaving his current job as director of athletic training with over thirty years of experience regarding medical issues.
The Academy created the new position of dean of student health and wellness this fall. Previously part of the responsibilities of the associate dean of students, the main purpose of the dean is to act as a liaison between Health Services and the rest of the deans. The conversion of the position was announced by Principal Hassan at the beginning of the year. Interested applicants submitted letters of interest and were interviewed by a search committee.
The dean of wellness will deal with all aspects of student health to insure that students can take the best advantage of their education at Exeter. Moreover, Coole will address attendance, medical leaves and issues regarding ASAP while serving in the dean-on-duty rotation.
Coole was ultimately offered the position last week given his extensive experience in a variety of fields. He has been an adviser for 27 years and lived in three different dorms. Throughout this time, he has served as an athletic trainer as well as on the Discipline Committee and the Wellness Council, which he will now chair as the dean of wellness.
Associate Athletic Trainer Kayla Medina, a colleague of Coole for several years now, believes he will be a great addition to the wellness program because of his experience and fresh perspective. “Gordon Coole has had many roles but his commitment to Phillips Exeter students’ health and well-being has always been at the forefront of everything he has done,” Medina said. “As an athletic trainer and member of the Lamont Health and Wellness Center program, Gordon has worked to promote making healthy life choices as well as caring for students’ orthopedic injuries. Gordon has always taken a very holistic perspective when working with students—he does not simply focus on an injury but the person as a whole.”
“Gordon Coole has had many roles but his commitment to Phillips Exeter students’ health and well-being has always been at the forefront of everything he has done.”
Coole hopes to apply his problem-solving skills as an athletic trainer to his new position. “I enjoy problem solving, keeping a compassionate, empathic attitude while applying a practical, analytical approach. When interacting with students I maintain a broad perspective, taking all aspects of the person's being into consideration. I've used this method in dealing with injuries to athletes and plan on continuing in my new role as a dean,” he said.
Coole’s philosophy for addressing a problem involves bolstering the positives and rectifying the negatives. This will contribute to his ability as a dean to, “anticipate the complexity of a student's strengths and weaknesses,” and work to improve their Exeter experience. The prospect of helping students excites him and he is “eager to begin and see what positive impacts [he] can have on our community,” he said.
Besides developing his problem solving philosophy, working as an athletic trainer has benefited Coole in other ways. “Gordon has been active in the athletic training community as a leader, volunteer, and scholar—all of which will have a positive impact in the position of health dean,” Associate Athletic Trainer Christopher Hamel said. “Gordon has been a great mentor to me and as a dean, would have the opportunity to mentor other young professionals while emulating strong values in the healthcare field.”
There are many reasons that Coole is excited and nervous for his new position. “Being a part of a new team, taking on different yet similar problems, serving the Academy community more broadly are all reasons to be excited,” Coole said.
The plan for replacing Coole’s previous position as director of athletic training involves internal and external applications. While the search process proceeds, Medina will assume command. She is excited for the opportunity although she acknowledges filling the role will be difficult. “Gordon leaving the position as director of athletic training will leave a big hole to fill,” Medina said.
“We in the athletic training department are transitioning to winter sports teams as well as having a few fall teams still in playoffs. This is a very busy time for us and with Gordon starting some of his new duties as dean, Chris Hamel and I are going to have to try and fill his shoes.”
Coole explained that the relationships he formed with the other trainers would be the hardest part of leaving, as well as the best part of becoming a dean.
“There is a great team of professional caregivers that exist in the sports medicine program and with our colleagues in the Health Center. We operate as a close-knit team and it's tough to leave that environment,” he said. “On the flip side I recognize that another great team is in place in the dean of students office so my sadness is tempered by excited anticipation.”