After Woodard’s death, new Calhoun dean announced

On Monday, seven weeks after the sudden death of former Calhoun School Dean Leslie Woodard, April Ruiz ’05 was announced as the residential college’s new dean.

Yale School Dean Mary Miller and Calhoun Master Jonathan Holloway launched Ruiz to Calhoun students and other members of the Yale community on Monday evening in the Calhoun dining hall. Miller said that Ruiz’s connection to students stems from her own undergraduate knowledge that ended much less than a decade ago and from her current position as assistant director for Yale University fellowships at the Center for Worldwide and Professional Encounter (CIPE).

In the crowded Calhoun dining hall, Ruiz emphasized her excitement about assuming this new position and meeting the college students. Holloway explained Ruiz will begin by shadowing other administrators in the Dean’s Office and that she will get time to get to know staff, students and the creating.

“I am looking forward to assisting you navigate your many years right here at Yale, from move-in day to graduation day — all the ups and downs,” Ruiz stated.

Whilst at Yale, Ruiz — who was in Morse University — majored in cognitive science and was mentored by Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos. Right after graduation, Ruiz went on to study the social interactions of lemurs at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, from which she graduated with a Ph.D. in psychology in 2009. She returned to Yale as a postdoctoral associate of the Department of Psychology before functioning for the CIPE.

College students at the Monday evening meeting responded positively to Ruiz’s appointment. Clara Yang ’17 and Liza Rodler ’17, both college students in Calhoun, mentioned they were impressed by Ruiz’s enthusiasm and are optimistic about possessing her as their new dean.

Nathalie Levine ’14, a Calhoun student and former copy editor for the News, was previously recommended by Ruiz for a fellowship that she utilized for and ultimately won. She mentioned that her interactions with Ruiz have been normally pleasant, and that she expects that Ruiz’s experiences at CIPE will carry above to her deanship. She explained that her interactions with Ruiz were typically pleasant and that she hopes Ruiz’s experiences at CIPE will carry in excess of to her deanship.

The two Miller and Ruiz paid respects to Woodard in their remarks in the dining hall. Miller stated that the difficult and hard period that started with Woodard’s death is now coming to an end as the college enters into a time of hope and new beginning. Ruiz called Woodard a commendable colleague that she hopes to emulate in her new place.

“Calhoun would not be exactly where it is today without [Woodard’s] devotion to all of you and her devotion to this day,” Ruiz mentioned. “I want to adore this college as entirely as she did.”

Holloway announced the meeting in an electronic mail to Calhoun on Monday. Despite the fact that he did not mention a specific purpose for the meeting, most college students said they assumed it had to do with the vacant dean’s place. Yang explained that despite becoming initially mystified by the message, she and numerous of her friends sooner or later figured out what the meeting would revolve around.

It was uplifting to see so several Calhoun students with each other in one particular space, Rodler mentioned, adding that it appeared like the local community came with each other as a household.

Holloway said Ruiz is expected to entirely transition into her new position in excess of the course of the subsequent month. In January 2014, at the begin of the spring semester, she will move into the school with her dog Benjamin and fiancé Neil Catapano, who is at the moment a student at Quinnipiac University obtaining his 2nd degree.

Holloway provided his help to Ruiz, while also emphasizing students’ roles in assisting her assimilate.

“My occupation is to assist her in the ways that I can, but you guys ought to lead the way,” he mentioned to the students. “Help train her as your dean.”

Ruiz will formally start her new duties and get on the title of the deanship on Dec. 9. Earlier this 12 months, Holloway announced that he would depart his publish as Master of Calhoun School at the end of the 2013-’14 academic year.

After Woodard’s death, new Calhoun dean announced