In this newly created role, Dean Hollemon serves on the senior staff and has responsibility for formulating and implementing—in collaboration with other senior staff members and the entire campus—the College’s goals for becoming a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community that embraces diversity and inclusion as a key dimension of institutional excellence.
Dean Hollemon has served at Hampden-Sydney since 2017, first as associate dean of students for housing and residence life and deputy Title IX coordinator, and most recently as associate dean of students for residence life, equity, and inclusion. During the 2018-19 academic year, Dean Hollemon established the College’s Brother 4 Brother Mentorship program, which is focused on first generation students and students of color who come from underserved communities. The Brother 4 Brother program has had an immediate positive impact on the retention and academic success of its participants.
“We are fortunate to have John’s passion for and proven experience in leading diversity and inclusion initiatives at the College,” said President Larry Stimpert. “The success of the Brother 4 Brother program is just one example of John’s ability to enhance our students’ experience in and out of the classroom and to strengthen the culture of our campus.”
In his new role, Dean Hollemon will provide vision, leadership, and administrative oversight of campus-wide programs and services that are pursuing diversity and inclusion initiatives, and design and implement related policies and processes that will support those efforts. This includes co-chairing, along with the dean of faculty, the College’s Inclusive Excellence Working Group. Dean Hollemon will continue to lead the Office of Equity and Inclusion, working to develop and maintain programs, structures, and a campus culture that embrace diversity and inclusion.
“2020 has proven that we are at a critical juncture in our country and College,” Hollemon said. “Hampden-Sydney has committed itself to doing the hard work to become a more welcoming and inclusive campus for all, and I feel hopeful and confident that progress will continue to be made. This includes utilizing this leadership role and addressing the critical, racial, and cultural dialogue of the times—despite how hard, daunting, or uncomfortable the work may seem.”