Associate Dean of Campus Life Jill Hawthorne is leaving next year to resume her doctoral studies program in Education at UC Irvine. June 30 will be her last day.

Her decision is based on the time restraints between working a full-time job and being a student. "I want to focus on my education," she explained, "and there is no way to cut back on responsibility as Associate Dean. It’s important to me to commit more fully as I head into the second half [of my studies]. And I have a personal life that I’d like to spend more time in."

File Photo Associate Dean Jill Hawthorne

Hawthorne’s job at Pomona was her second professional career. She has worked in the Office of Campus Life since July of 1993. During her time here, she has worked as Assistant Dean, Acting Dean, and finally as Associate Dean. As Associate Dean, Hawthorne has mainly been responsible for working with RHS. "Supervising 24 people requires a lot of time," she said. She has also advised the multicultural hall in Mudd-Blaisdell, served as an on-call dean, been responsible for some disciplinary matters on campus, and supervised the summer RA program.

Prior to coming to Pomona, Hawthorne worked in the Office of Residential Life at Santa Clara University. Coming to Pomona brought her closer to family, friends, and the Claremont Colleges where she graduated from Pitzer College in 1987. "I have learned a lot from working with people at Pomona; it’s been a wonderful professional growth experience," she said.

Hawthorne lived on campus for her first five years working at the college. Living off-campus during her sixth year "might have helped me to pull away," she explained. Nevertheless, "I see myself staying in touch and connected with the Five Colleges," she said.

Kate Eberle ’98 will replace Hawthorne for at least one year, and is already taking "a lead role in newstaff events," Hawthorne explained. Eberle was working in England and will return to Pomona to begin working with next year’s RHS staff. "They’ll see her immediately in that position," Hawthorne said. Hawthorne will help Eberle adjust to her new job, and the two will work together until Hawthorne leaves in June. Eberle herself is a former RHS member. While she was at Pomona, she served as Head Sponsor and as an RHS Intern.