November 30, 2021
Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,
I am pleased to announce that Rodmon Cedric King, currently the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the State University of New York at Oswego, will become the next Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion at Connecticut College. He will begin his new role Jan. 31.
Rodmon brings to Conn two decades of professional experience in higher education. Trained as a philosopher, he earned a B.A. from Roberts Wesleyan College, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Ancient Philosophy from the University of Rochester. As a member of the philosophy department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges from 2005–2015, he won awards for his teaching, mentoring, and community service, while also establishing his leadership in equity and inclusion. He served as an advisor to the Black Student Union; represented the Consortium for Faculty Diversity; and co-founded “Tools for Social Change,” a dialogue-driven initiative to advance equity in the Finger Lakes region—a program that continues to this day. Rodmon moved to Centre College in 2015, transitioning fully into administration as associate vice president for academic affairs and diversity initiatives. From there, he was recruited to SUNY, where he was tasked with creating the first division of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Oswego while taking on roles of increasing responsibility for the SUNY system as a whole.
At Oswego, he has been responsible for elevating the College’s strategic efforts around equity, including the launch of a three-year Grand Challenge on race, racism, and social justice and the design of a new Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformative Practice. He has worked with student government and countless student leaders on equity initiatives; directed the university’s DEI Advisory Council; chaired the BIPOC faculty and staff coalition; and made efforts to improve city-campus relations with leaders in the City of Oswego. As Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for the SUNY system, he has helped design and assess DEI plans; chaired the system’s Diversity Advisory Council; and launched a new Native American Initiative. He has also served in a leadership capacity on other SUNY campuses when circumstances have required it.
As our new Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion, Rodmon will be responsible for advancing full participation as a strategic priority at Connecticut College. This includes implementing the next phase of the College’s Equity and Inclusion Action Plan; overseeing the ongoing strength of Unity House, the LGBTQIA Center, the Women’s Center, Hillel House, and the Chapel; and supporting a strong team of professional staff in their work on equity and compliance, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, religion and spirituality, accessibility services, bias education and response, sexual violence prevention, and intergroup dialogue—all in order to improve the experience of an increasingly diverse student body, faculty, and staff. I am thrilled that Rodmon King will bring his talent, intellect, and deep commitment to full participation to the leadership of our campus.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in the search process, with a special note of appreciation to Maria Cruz-Saco, the Joanne Toor Cummings ’50 Professor of Economics, and Erika Smith, Dean of the College, who co-chaired the search, and to all the members of the committee whose good work and steady judgment—over the course of two semesters—brought about this outcome: Debo Adegbile ’91, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Hubert Cook, the Sue and Eugene Mercy, Jr. Assistant Professor of English; Ricardo Lombera ’22, 2021 Chair of Equity and Inclusion for the Student Government Association; Meera Narayanan-Pandit ’23, Vice President, Connecticut College Athletes of Color Coalition; Ken Prestininzi, Associate Professor of Theater; Analisse Rios ’08, Strength and Conditioning and Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach; Jefferson Singer, Faulk Foundation Professor of Psychology and past Dean of the College; and Bryana White, Assistant Director, Student Counseling Services.
I also want to express my deep gratitude to Ari Rotramel, Vandana Shiva Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies, who paused a sabbatical to take on the role of interim dean, a position they have fulfilled with talent and conviction since August. Ari will remain in this position until Rodmon arrives at the end of January. I hope you will join me in thanking Ari for their devoted service to the College.
Rodmon will be on campus with his partner, Sarah Berry, on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 6 and 7. We will arrange an opportunity during that time so that you can welcome them personally; details will be forthcoming. In the meantime, please do join me in sending our warmest congratulations to Rodmon King.
Yours,
Katherine Bergeron
President