Dear Brown University Community, 

I am pleased to share that Dorsey Spencer, Jr., Ph.D. has been appointed Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students, beginning July 31.

Dr. Spencer currently serves as Dean of Students at Colgate University, where he provides senior leadership for a broad student affairs portfolio and leads work on student engagement, belonging, and community building. He also has responsibilities in the areas of coordinated care, crisis response, and conduct. He brings extensive experience strengthening student-centered systems, developing high-performing teams, and partnering across complex institutions to support student success.

In this role at Brown, Dr. Spencer will oversee Student Accessibility Services, Student Activities Office, Student Conduct and Community Standards, and Student Support Services. He will serve as a key member of the Campus Life leadership team and will work closely with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners to advance an integrated, responsive, and deeply student-centered experience for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. Learn more about Dr. Spencer in his website bio.

Dr. Spencer’s leadership is closely aligned with Brown’s commitment to student agency, transparency, shared governance, and community. He is excited to begin this work and to meet with students and colleagues across campus in the months ahead.

I am grateful to the search committee, Campus Life colleagues, and campus partners for their contributions to this successful search. I also want to thank AVPs Dana Hamdan, Susan Layden, and Loc Truong for their leadership during this interim period.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Spencer to Brown.

Patricia Poitevien, MD, MSc, FAAP
Vice President for Campus Life