Dorsey Spencer Jr., director of administration in the office of the vice president for student affairs at Florida State University (FSU), has been named dean of students at Colgate University. He will take up his post on June 1.
“The dean of the college division engages deeply with students in ways that touch every aspect of their Colgate education,” said Vice President and Dean of the College Paul J. McLoughlin II. “Dorsey’s career in higher education administration has covered that spectrum. He has demonstrated a commitment to being an advocate, a solver of problems, a positive presence, and a knowledgeable resource for students and colleagues. I look forward to welcoming him to the University.”
In his role at FSU, Spencer functions as chief of staff to the vice president for student affairs, helping to set division priorities, leading projects and initiatives, and managing task forces and committees — including the Fraternity and Sorority Life Council and the Health and Wellness Executive Committee. He works closely with and advises student organizations, duties he also fulfilled in his previous work as the associate director of FSU’s student union and as the executive director of student engagement at the American University of Nigeria.
Spencer has taught classes at FSU on black male leadership and has served as a facilitator for LeaderShape, Allies and Safe Zones, and Social Justice Ally Training. To fulfill his various mandates, he draws on a dozen years’ experience in higher education administration, with growing levels of responsibility at institutions like FSU, the American University of Nigeria, Bucknell University, and UMass Amherst.
At Colgate, Spencer will provide strategic leadership for the Shaw Wellness Institute, the Office of the Chaplains, the ALANA Cultural Center, LGBTQ+ Initiatives, the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement, and Fraternity and Sorority Advising. He will support the University’s ongoing implementation of a new Residential Commons system even as he participates in Colgate’s efforts to expand diversity, equity, and inclusion — important first initiatives within The Third-Century Plan.
“Colgate University is an amazing institution, and I am excited to become a member of its community,” Spencer said. “I am eager to work with Dean McLoughlin to expand upon his vision alongside the talented staff members of the dean of the college division. I look forward to collaborating with students to maintain and constantly enhance a campus environment that fosters a positive co-curricular experience for all students.”
Spencer earned a bachelor’s degree at Temple University, a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, and a PhD from FSU. He is actively involved in several professional organizations; has presented at conferences; and has published on topics related to leadership learning, student engagement, and diversity, inclusion, and equity. Within the Tallahassee community, he is a mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend and has served as a community catalyst as a part of Knight Creative Communities Institute. Spencer has earned awards for his work at the American University of Nigeria and FSU, and he was named a top 20 Under 40 Young Professional by the Tallahassee Network of Young Professionals in 2019.