Betty Trout-Kelly's upcoming departure from the College means the campus is losing a trusted leader and friend. Now College officials face the challenge of finding a replacement to fill a revamped position of adviser to the President on issues of diversity and equity.
Trout-Kelly steps down as Executive Assistant to the President for Institutional Diversity and Equity at the end of this academic year. She has been at Bowdoin for 15 years, serving as multicultural adviser in the Counseling Office before moving to the President's office under former President Bob Edwards.
During the nineties, Trout-Kelly served on a committee that developed the College's first diversity and affirmative action plan. One step that committee recommended was the creation of Trout-Kelly's position as an advocate for minority students and staff.
While the new post put Trout-Kelly in a more policy-driven position, she maintained her close ties with students, whom she called "a blessing."
"They're doing so well and flourishing," she said.
Over the years, many students have come to view Trout-Kelly as a second mother, some affectionately referring to her as "Dr. T-K." She was at once an academic, social, and spiritual counselor.
Danny Le '06 called her "a big part" of his success at Bowdoin and "a compassionate person who really cares about each student she interacts with."
Trout-Kelly was an important part of Joy Hutton '04's decision to attend Bowdoin.
"When I heard [Trout-Kelly] speak during my first visit to Bowdoin, I was convinced she would be able to help me, as a female minority student, face some obvious challenges at a school like Bowdoin," Hutton said.
Stacey Jones '00 has worked with Trout-Kelly both as a student and a colleague while serving as Coordinator of Multicultural Student Programs.
"As a student, [Trout-Kelly's] consistency, honesty and willingness to deliver the hard messages was invaluable. Her presence kept me connected to many values and comforts that I left behind when I said good-bye to my family and to the Midwest," Jones said. "As a colleague those same qualities stand out."
President Barry Mills called Trout-Kelly "an important part of the College" and noted that, when she moved to the President's office, Bowdoin "didn't look this way," referring to the increased enrollment of minority students. The President called her an important player in his goal of making Bowdoin "feel like America."
Mills said that Trout-Kelly's position would remain, and hopes to name a successor by the start of the 2005-06 academic year. But he plans to give whomever succeeds Trout-Kelly an even broader focus.
Mills plans to ask Trout-Kelly's replacement to focus particularly on issues of academic excellence and faculty development.
"We need to think about strategies to allow talented students to succeed," Mills said.
Mills also hopes Trout-Kelly's successor will help with the recruitment of additional faculty from diverse racial and intellectual backgrounds.
Mills said he is especially interested in attracting "thought-leaders" to be members of Bowdoin's faculty. While conceding that faculty recruitment is "fundamentally" the job of the faculty itself, he is "eager to provide the resources" to assist them.
Trout-Kelly is unsure of her plans, but hopes to pursue similar work at a larger institution and would like to teach.