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College Hires New Dean of Students


By Sofia Montoya-Deck

Published Dec. 4, 2023


Hood College has named the former vice president for student affairs at Bowie State University as the college’s new dean of students.


The new dean, Demetrius Johnson, begins his position on Monday, Dec. 4.


Every member of the Hood College community has shown such warmth and kindness,” Johnson said. “Hood College is a very special community. I am honored to serve as the Dean of Students. I am very excited to meet studentsevery student.” 

 

Johnson most recently held the position of vice president for student affairs at Bowie State University beginning in June 2020 before resigning in January 2022 due to family health issues.

The Dean of Students position has been vacant since July when former dean Ron Wiafe left for a role at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. In his absence, Paige Eager and Sue Kolb have divided the position’s responsibilities.


After narrowing the pool of over 90 applicants, Hood’s search advisory committee invited three candidates to participate in comprehensive on-campus interviews. The committee then met to review feedback and subsequently made an official offer to Johnson.


"I am very excited to work with Dr. Johnson as Hood's new Dean of Students,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Debbie Ricker said. “His passion for working with students, empowering and developing team members, and leading mission-centered student life initiatives is both impressive and inspiring.  At each step of the interview process, as he learned more about the Hood community, I watched his enthusiasm grow.  I know he will embrace our mission and our students fully."


Johnson served at Bowie during the COVID pandemic and his crisis management efforts helped the school reach a 95% vaccination rate and maintain an infection rate below 2%. He also increased campus housing occupancy from 73% to 93.9% within two years.


In the email announcing his departure, Bowie State administration wished Johnson well in his future endeavors. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Johnson for his dedicated service to our students and the entire university during his time with us,” the announcement read.


Before his role at BSU, Johnson served as associate vice president for student engagement and dean of student success at Marymount University where he fostered a 3% increase in internships, 20% growth in employer partnerships, and 7% increase in student employees.


Johnson also worked at Dillard University as the dean of student affairs and director of residence life from 2013-2017, successfully restoring three residence halls post-Hurricane Katrina and increasing the residential population from 67% to 91%.


Between 2011 and 2013, Johnson worked as the director of the Master of Business Administration program at the University of Iowa. Previously, he was an assistant site director at Troy State University from 2009 to 2011.


Johnson holds a doctorate of management in organizational leadership from the University of Phoenix, a master of science in higher education from Western Illinois University, and will earn a doctor of philosophy in leadership from the University of the Cumberlands in May 2024.


Johnson is also the CEO of Commanding Voices, a coaching, consulting, and training company that helps individuals and organizations achieve personal enhancement and professional growth in the fields of education, leadership and emotional intelligence.


“I look forward to advancing the mission of Hood College under the leadership of President Chapdelaine and Provost Ricker,” Johnson said. “I share each of their enthusiasm for Hood College and care for students. I can't wait to begin.”

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