New Faces for J. Smith; Deans To Step Down

Dean of Residential Life AJ Cosgrove and Dean of Students Melissa Mischke will reach the end of their seven-year tenures at the conclusion of this year and next year, respectively. At that time, they will resume their teaching positions in the Science Department. 

Before becoming deans, Mischke served as a chemistry instructor and Cosgrove as a physics instructor. Although Mischke and Cosgrove were originally appointed for five-year employments, both of their tenures were extended by two years. “None of us are leaving the school,” Dean Mischke said. “We are from the faculty, we go back to the faculty.”

Both deans have found the position fulfilling. “I like to think that I’ve treated every student fairly and with respect,” Cosgrove said. “I’m proud to have worked with a great team over the last several years. [We have improved] the advising system, improved proctor training and [brought] programming to our campus that helped to create good discussions about community life.”

Mischke has also collaborated with various departments. “It’s been exciting to work with a group of people in piloting the all-gender dorms. Finally getting the advising period to be a permanent feature—that was one of the first things we did. [We implemented] the health risk behavior survey every other year for us to understand our students’ [risky behavior] and to develop programming to deal with it,” Mischke said. In addition to these projects, she is also proud of her work on several other policies, such as a non-gendered dress code and new visitations policy, in addition to implementing an effective Dean’s Council.

“We are from the faculty, we go back to the faculty.”

However, Mischke believes there is more to be done, especially with regards to the sexual misconduct cases. “Every time you do one of these jobs, there’s always more you want to do. [The cases] kind of loomed over everything, and I want to make more progress,” Mischke said. “I think we’re getting there, but that’s just work that will always need to be done, consistently.” She also hoped that faculty would reach a consensus on the visitations policy and adopt proposals from the Academy Life Task Force that will strengthen life on campus.

Principal Lisa MacFarlane praised Mischke and Cosgrove for their efforts. “I am very grateful to the deans for their work on behalf of Exeter students and families: they have overseen many changes that have made the lives of students more comfortable, safer and more collaborative,” she said. 

As both deans reach the end of their tenures, students also reflect on their contributions to the community. “Dean Cosgrove has always been nice to people,” lower and varsity soccer player Jamie Lowell said. “He doesn’t act like a typical adult; he acts more like a friend. And coaching-wise, he cares a lot about soccer. I can’t really speak for everyone else, but he’s helped me out a lot at this school.”

Upper Emeline Scales often saw Mischke interacting with various groups on campus. “I’ve [noticed Dean Mischke] trying to get involved in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), etc. The times that I’ve interacted with her have mostly been with diversity,” Scales said. However, Scales noted the deans’ inadequacies in dealing with the recent episodes of sexual misconduct cases. “Personally, seeing how they handled situations seemed very dishonest and kind of fake, I guess. But being someone who hasn’t really interacted with deans at all really, I don’t think I can speak very accurately on their characters,” Scales said.

Last November, the New York Times detailed the sexual assault cases of two female Exeter alumni who had been groped by a male student in the church basement. The two female students approached Dean Cosgrove and Dean Mischke in October 2015 upon encouragement from their faculty advisers. New Hampshire state law mandates school officials “having reason to suspect” sexual abuse of a person under age 18 to report the case to the state Department of Health and Human Services. However, a year later, investigator Trooper Mallory S. Littman drafted arrest warrants for Cosgrove and Mischke under the accusation that they had committed a misdemeanor by failing to report the sexual assault of a 17-year-old. The Rockingham County Attorney General concluded that there was not enough evidence to move ahead with charges against either dean, should the case go to trial.

Upper Hanna Pak also mentioned Cosgrove and Mischke’s controversial responses to sexual misconduct cases, hoping that their replacements would react differently. “We could potentially get people who handle situations much, much worse, and I know in many people’s opinions that’s not really possible, but I don’t know. I can’t really say,” Pak said. “I think [the effect that their absence will have on campus] will depend on who replaces them. It could either be a very positive thing, or pretty destructive.”

Some faculty commended Cosgrove and Mischke for their efforts on campus, not only in a formal setting. “I have found both Dean Cosgrove and Dean Mischke to be very supportive, balanced and thoughtful in all aspects of their work and attitude, whether it be with individual students or groups like a dorm, and also with me in my role and work as dorm head,” Math Instructor and Browning House Dorm Head Greg Spanier said.

This past Monday, MacFarlane sent an email to employees asking for nominations and applications for a one-year interim position as Dean of Residential Life for the fall of 2018 and a new Dean of Students for the fall of 2019.

According to MacFarlane, the Academy Life Task Force will be making recommendations to faculty members and herself in April that will determine the reorganization of the Dean of Students office. MacFarlane is optimistic of this coming change. “Dean Mischke proposed a reorganization of the Dean of Students office that will bring additional adults to the work of the Dean’s office,” she said. “That reorganization will bring a new generation of leadership into the hard and critical work of making sure we have outstanding support for students: well-integrated ways to ensure physical and emotional wellbeing, proactive academic and social support, a truly inclusive campus life, strong collaboration with families, and programming that reinforces our community norms and values.”