After 32 years at Brandeis, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer resigned this summer. His last day at Brandeis was July 31.

Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel announced to his division two days later that Jamele Adams, formerly an associate dean of student life, would assume the role of dean of students.

Plans to replace the vice president position that Sawyer occupied, or the associate dean position that Adams previously occupied, have not been announced.

Only July 31, Sawyer personally announced his departure in an email to a small group of selected colleagues and associates from his time at Brandeis.

"I am resigning because I no longer see myself aligned with the University's decisions regarding my present and future roles," wrote Sawyer. "I respect the right of the University to make decisions about what is in their best interest, ... and I must do the same for myself."

Sawyer went on to write that he had hoped to finish his career at Brandeis, but no longer felt that he would be "able to participate in ways that [he] would find professionally satisfying." He added that "I do not resign easily or happily," and apologized for the potentially unexpected departure. 

"We often talk with students about defining moments in our lives, and in this particular personal moment I have elected to leave on my own terms," wrote Sawyer.

In an interview with the Justice, Sawyer confirmed that he has been in conversation with colleagues in the higher education regarding opportunities that will be available.

University President Frederick Lawrence also sent an email on July 31 to announce Sawyer's departure, although did not acknowledge it as a resignation.

In the email, sent to the broader Brandeis community, Lawrence described Sawyer's achievements at Brandeis since his arrival in 1981.

Sawyer mentored students and staff throughout the terms of six out of eight Brandeis presidents (although the email erroneously cited the statistic as four out of eight). He also oversaw the evolving missions of multiple departments within the Division of Students and Enrollment.

"It is no exaggeration to say that Rick Sawyer has had a transformative impact on student life at Brandeis," wrote Lawrence in the email. "On behalf of a grateful university, please join me in wishing Rick and his family the best of luck in the future."

Sawyer was promoted to associate vice president for student affairs, in addition to his role as dean of student life, in July 2004, according to an Aug. 31 Justice article from that year.

As dean of student life, Sawyer directed Orientation, a program which he pioneered, as well as Residence Life, Student Development and Conduct, Student Activities, Student Centers, Community Service, Graduate Student Services and the Intercultural Center.

As associate vice president for student affairs, other responsibilities included overseeing four additional departments: the Health Center, the Counseling Center, the Athletic Department and the Chaplaincy.

Sawyer wrote in an email to the Justice that, as the "number '2'" to the senior vice president for students and enrollment, he also attended meetings of the president's cabinet and the Board of Trustees.

Responding to questions about whether anyone would assume Sawyer's duties as Vice President, Flagel wrote in an email to the Justice, "Rick has not attended Board meetings since I arrived. Athletics reports directly to me and has for some time, as does orientation. All of the other departments remain as before."

However, he added, "reporting lines are never set in stone and I look forward to working with Dean Adams and the senior leadership in the Students and Enrollment division to continually assess our models and structures."

Adams officially assumed the role of Dean of Student Life as of August 5.

"Times of transition are bittersweet, but I enter into this new role with humility, respect, and fire," wrote Adams in an email to the Justice.

"I will continue to support, advocate and challenge our students for the better; bridging that with the experience and talent of our Student Affairs Professionals, and complementing the outstanding teaching our faculty do in and out of the classroom. In all of this, [I will] remain committed to our core values, and never forget the reasons we are here-you, the Students and the importance of the Brandeis family," Adams continued.

When asked whether or not his former position would be filled, Adams wrote, "I will be thinking about the role as we are assessing all our divisional needs."

In Flagel's announcement to the division of students and enrollment, he stressed that "there is no plan in the division to cut positions to save money," but that there was a plan to "continue to explore all of our structures and processes."

Adams' appointment to the role of Dean was described in the email as "one of the next steps in this process."

"I have every confidence that [Adams] is the right leader for this critical role at Brandeis, and that he will continue to share his love for Brandeis both on and off campus, whether it be at a speaking engagement, motivating our peers or delivering poetry," wrote Flagel.

According to Flagel's email, Adams came to Brandeis in 2005 as assistant dean of student life and was promoted to associate dean of student life in 2006.

Adams is also a noted slam poet, and has performed on campus for various events and causes.
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