For Immediate Release: May 3, 2006
Contact: Tom Krattenmaker
tkratte1@swarthmore.edu

James Larimore Appointed Dean at Swarthmore

SWARTHMORE, Pa.--Swarthmore College President Alfred H. Bloom announced today that James A. Larimore has been named Dean of Students at Swarthmore. Larimore will replace Robert Gross, who is retiring after nine years of service as dean and six years as associate dean.

James A. Larimore

Larimore, currently dean of the college at Dartmouth, will join the Swarthmore administration in August. At Swarthmore, he will oversee vital aspects of student life such as academic advising, career services, health and psychological services, residential life, multicultural initiatives, and social and extracurricular activities.

"I am confident that Jim will bring exceptional energy and vision to the area of student life, will contribute importantly to advancing Swarthmore's leadership in American education, and will come quickly to be regarded as a warm, admired, and trusted friend of every constituency of the College's community," President Bloom said. "We look forward with delight to welcoming him in early August."

Larimore said, "I am deeply honored to be joining the Swarthmore community. I look forward to working with students, alumni, and my new colleagues on the faculty and staff to build on Swarthmore's considerable strengths, which are nurtured and strengthened by the institution's distinctive culture of service, ethical leadership, and academic excellence. My family and I look forward to being an active part of campus life and immersing ourselves in the Swarthmore experience."

Larimore, 46, has been dean at Dartmouth since 1999, serving as the institution's chief administrator for a wide range of offices and activities related to undergraduate education and student life. Previously, he spent 14 years at Stanford University, where he served in roles including assistant to the provost, acting dean of students, deputy dean of students, and assistant dean and director for Stanford's American Indian Program. In 1994, Larimore became just the second student affairs officer to receive Stanford's Dinkelspiel Award for Outstanding Service to Undergraduate Education, and he was named to Stanford's Alumni Hall of Fame in 2005. Larimore serves on the advisory council for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Millennium Scholars Program and is a member of the National Vice Presidents Group.

A 1982 graduate of East Texas State University, Larimore earned a master's degree in higher education from Stanford in 1995. He is now completing a Ph.D. at Stanford in higher education administration and policy analysis.