In an email to faculty, Senior Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs Jennifer Scanlon announced that COVID-19 Resource Coordinator and Director of Residential and Student Life Mike Ranen will be transitioning into the newly-established role of associate dean for academic administration sometime in the spring semester. Scanlon announced the new permanent position to faculty last month as a part of the multifaceted effort to replace outgoing Director of Academic Budget and Operations Ann Ostwald. Ostwald will work alongside Ranen before retiring in June.

“[Ranen] will be integrally involved in managing and coordinating academic operations, facilities and space planning and academic administration,” Scanlon wrote. “His work across campus will include collaborations with human resources, facilities management, information technology and sponsored research.”

Given his connection to the Bowdoin community, Ranen expects a smooth transition.

“The important thing that I learned to do when I took on the COVID-19 Resource Coordinator role was to develop relationships around the College. These are the same people that I will be working with in my new position, so I already have those relationships,” Ranen said.

Ranen will continue in his current roles until he moves into the new position, which won’t be until at least mid-March. The College will appoint a new COVID-19 coordinator and will begin a formal search for Ranen’s student affairs replacement in the spring.

“I have loved working in student affairs,” Ranen said. “While I’m excited about the new opportunities and challenges [of this new role], I am really going to miss working closely with students, in particular.”