Randy Stevens, the Robert G. Engel Associate Dean of Students and director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, is leaving Cornell after 11 years to embark on a career in secondary education administration.
Stevens, whose resignation is effective July 31, said his departure from Cornell, for a position as dean of student life and assistant headmaster at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Mass., comes with mixed feelings. "This is truly a dream come true for me but also a bittersweet moment because it means leaving a place I have grown to love in a very profound way."
Stevens said his dream has always been to be headmaster of such a school and that this is an ideal step in that direction.
At Northfield Stevens will be responsible for student life, which includes discipline, religious life, service learning, advising, cross-cultural programming, student activities and leadership programs, work program, health services, counseling and psychological services, house masters and the residential programming, athletics and physical education, parents programs and orientation. He also will become a member of the school's faculty.
John L. Ford, the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students, said Stevens will be missed at Cornell, where he has helped improve the quality of Greek life.
"Randy has been remarkably effective as a leader of change and improvement in the fraternity and sorority system," Ford said. "Through it all he has maintained a good sense of humor and energetic dedication to student success."
Stevens said his work with the Greek system has been both rewarding and educational. "I have been a student, in both a literal and figurative sense, throughout my association with this institution," Stevens said. "The lessons I have learned about the educational process, institutional governance and administrative practice have been extraordinary and shall serve me well as I move forward."
He also believes that with the development of the strategic plan unveiled in February 1997, the foundation has been laid for greatly improving the Greek program.
"Over the past 11 years, the fraternity and sorority life program has been transformed from a small operation into a program that has the potential to be integrated into the residential program at Cornell," Stevens said. "The structure is now in place to sufficiently strengthen the fraternity and sorority system and to positively affect the undergraduate educational experience of those students involved.
"I take very little credit for this work, but express a great deal of gratitude for the chance to have worked with the staff, faculty, alumni and countless students who have made it happen," he said.
Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, said Stevens' dedication and commitment to students will be missed.
"We will miss Randy very much but wish him all the best in this exciting professional opportunity at Northfield Mount Hermon," Murphy said. "His contributions over the past 11 years have been extraordinary. The relationship between the fraternity and sorority system and the university has never been stronger, in my opinion, and that reflects Randy's superb leadership and dedication. Throughout all of his work, he has demonstrated a fundamental commitment to the students and that has made his work so successful."
Stevens received his master's in public administration from Cornell in 1995.
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