Developing

In an unexpected turn of events, an email from Chancellor Steven Kaplan yesterday announced that Ophelie Rowe-Allen, dean of students and chief diversity officer at the University of New Haven, has been named vice president of student affairs. This promotion went into effect March 1.

Rowe-Allen joined the university as dean of students prior to the fall 2020 semester, with Kaplan saying that “she played an integral role in our re-opening that fall amid the far-reaching impact of the pandemic.” Rowe-Allen also helped in restarting the Convocation ceremony which first-year students experience during Charge-In.

As chief diversity officer, Rowe-Allen has been at the forefront of multiple initiatives on campus, including the popular Courageous Conversations series as well as the diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging (DEIAB) report which details the university’s current and future plans to continue growing as a welcoming environment for all.

In a statement on behalf of the university, Dave Cranshaw, director of communications and public relations for the office of marketing and communications, announced that Rowe-Allen will continue to serve as dean of students in addition to taking on her new role as vice president of student affairs. She will remain as chief diversity officer until the search for a new vice president of DEIAB is complete, with Cranshaw saying “an appointment for that position is expected to be announced later this spring.”

Stay tuned as the university reopens from break for updates on these transitions of leadership, and to hear more from Rowe-Allen on the uptaking of this new role.