Kamala Kiem: Farewell Party and Tribute Video

Dear Colleagues,

It is bittersweet, as we announce that Kamala Kiem, our Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Engagement recently accepted the role of Associate Provost and Dean of Students at Clark University in Worcester, MA and will be leaving our community on December 17th.

Before leaving the University, we invite you to visit with her at her going away party on Monday, December 13th from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the Dolan School of Business Event Hall. There will be food, refreshments, music as well as opportunities to reminisce and wish her well on her next adventure! Please RSVP at the link below by Monday, December 6th at 4:30 p.m. For information about the tribute video, please visit the RSVP link.

A little note about Kamala:

Since starting in Residence Life in 2008, Kamala has held various leadership roles and positions within our institution that have not only shaped our culture but transformed the division of Student Life and bridged relationships all over campus. Following her time in Residence Life, she became the Director of New Student Programs in 2010, overseeing our Orientation and First Year Experience Mentoring Programs. In 2012, the Office of the Dean of Students appointed her an Assistant Dean of Students followed by an Associate Dean in 2015.

During her tenure at the University she has witnessed the re-naming of her office from New Student Programs, to Student Programs and Leadership Development, to the current iteration, Office of Student Engagement. Under this umbrella, Kamala oversees areas and professionals that promote the holistic development of the student body, and, particularly, assist students in their transition and exploration at Fairfield University. These areas of exploration fall within many realms; traditional programs and late night events, international student life, clubs and organizations, our Fairfield University Student Association, first year, transfer and international student orientation, new student leaders, first year experience, social justice, civic engagement, leadership development and graduate student life.

Over the years, Kamala has been a vital member of the University Retention Committee, closely monitoring the progress of first year students, a co-director of the Lucy Katz Dialogue & Resolution Program, a social justice mediation program and a leader within the First-Year Initiatives Committee, working with Academic Affairs and Residence Life to intentionally develop our first-year Living and Learning Communities. Kamala has also held prominent roles as co-chair of both the President’s Institutional Diversity Council and University Diversity Leadership Team. She also created the Student Life Financial Assistance Program, which serves need-based students in their goals of participating in campus events and initiatives which present a financial barrier. In 2016, alongside colleague Carrie Robinson, Kamala won the President’s Innovation Award for Student Support, Mentoring, and Advising. In 2019, alongside her Residence Life colleagues, she won the 2019 Connecticut Program of the Year - First-Year Academic Exploration LLC and the STEM LLC.

Prior to Fairfield University, Kamala held prominent roles in Residence Life at Michigan State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Massachusetts Amherst and most recently Smith College. Currently Kamala is completing her Ph.D. in Higher Education at University of Massachusetts Boston, where she is also the co-chair of The College of Education and Human Development Budget & Strategic Planning Faculty Senate Committee.