Following 31 years of service in the Division of Student Affairs at Westfield State University, longtime Dean of Students and current interim Vice President for Student Affairs Susan LaMontagne retired this summer.
The search committee for a new dean will be chaired by new Vice President for Student Affairs Gloria Lopez. According to Lopez, the open position has been posted and a search committee is being formed. The committee plans to interview candidates and identify someone late in the fall semester so that individual can begin at the University in January.
Widely respected by her colleagues and students for her perspective, temperament, and integrity, she provided exemplary leadership and stability to the Division of Student Affairs for more than three decades. LaMontagne served as Dean of Students for 13 years.
Her institutional knowledge and fair, measured style is sought after frequently by all campus constituents. Always a trustworthy and collaborative peer, she took on additional interim responsibilities as human resources and equal opportunity director on two occasions, in 1999 and 2005, and was interim vice president of Student Affairs on another occasion during the 2007–08 academic year. LaMontagne is highly respected both on and off campus as an expert in student conduct, Title IX, FERPA, and student government.
She first joined Westfield State as a staff associate, Judicial Affairs Coordinator in the department of Student Affairs in 1988. She was promoted to associate director in 1992, director in 1997 and dean of Student Affairs in 2006.
Her progressive responsibilities in Student Affairs included acting as supervisor over Public Safety, Health Services, Counseling, Student Conduct, and the Campus Center. A dedicated campus leader, she has served on every major University committee and task force and is an effective change agent. A longtime advocate for students and a consummate professional, LaMontagne’s level-headedness and impact on student success and the development of her staff will be sorely missed. Among her many attributes as Dean of Students is her ability to serve as an effective liaison and advocate for students and their families going through difficult situations or crises.