Marjorie Thomas will travel north from the College of Charleston this summer to assume the role of dean of students at The College of William & Mary.
Thomas, who has worked in higher education for 20 years, will replace Patricia Volp on July 1, following Volp’s retirement. Volp has served as dean of students since 1997; she plans to stay in Williamsburg and pursue her interest in photography.
Thomas was selected following a nationwide search. She currently serves as vice president for student affairs at the College of Charleston, where she manages policy development and strategic planning for 22 departments, with a $31 million operating budget.
She supervises the Center for Civic Engagement, Multicultural Student Programs and Services and the Bonner Leader Program. She has also served as director of the McNair Scholars Program and student resource coordinator since 2009.
Prior to her time in Charleston, Thomas worked at the University of Miami, beginning as assistant director and coordinator of minority recruitment and later serving as university ombudsman and assistant to the vice president for student affairs. While there, she was named Administrator of the Year.
Thomas graduated from Florida International University in 1993, and earned a master’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Florida A&M University.
Reporting directly to Ginger Ambler, vice president for student affairs, Thomas will “collaborate with the departments across campus to ensure student success and to manage student crises,” according to the position announcement.
An advocate for undergraduate and graduate students alike, “the dean [and her staff] works to promote students’ academic and personal success, to ensure a supportive and inclusive campus environment, to support a strong sense of community and personal integrity among students, and to support student learning both in and outside of the classroom.”
The dean of students also supervises several student life program areas including academic enrichment programs, student honor and conduct, services for students with disabilities, transfer student services, case management and the Center for Student Diversity.
