Aug 13, 2008 - Vice President and Dean of Students Jeanne Noda will leave Harvey Mudd College (HMC) to join the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Maryland, it was announced recently.

Noda will become the senior program officer for HHMI’s Medical Scholars and Medical Fellows Programs. Her last day at HMC will be Sept. 27, 2008.

“Dean Jeanne, as she has been known to several thousand students during her 15 years at HMC, has had a huge impact on everyone associated with our college,” said President Maria Klawe in announcing Noda’s departure. “She has been a tireless advocate for the needs, rights and responsibilities of students, an inspirational leader and teacher, and a wise counsel for all of us. I personally will miss her enormously, both for the knowledge and wisdom she brings to our senior team, and for the valued friend she has become.”

“Thanks to my HMC friends for their support and guidance throughout the years,” added Noda. “I feel that I have grown and stretched professionally alongside the students, as they have shared their academic and personal challenges. The ebb and flow of campus life has become an intimate part of my life and it will be a long time before I adjust to becoming an observer instead of a participant in HMC's future.”

In her new role at HHMI, Noda will work with students who are taking time out from medical school to explore research careers at the National Institutes of Health and other prestigious labs around the country.

“I look forward to the day when a HMC alum joins me at the Medical Scholars Program,” she said.

Prior to joining HMC’s senior staff, Noda spent eight years at the California Institute of Technology as assistant vice president for student affairs, and, before that, as associate dean of students.

An honorary alumna of Caltech, Noda coordinated the operations of the institution’s admissions, financial aid, residence life, athletics and physical education, secondary school outreach, career development, counseling services, the registrar's office and academic advising.

In 1990, Caltech sponsored her to receive the Medal of Excellence from the Women at Work organization in Pasadena, Calif.

In earlier positions, Noda was assistant dean and director of the M.B.A. program at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Business Administration. She also served as director of M.B.A. admissions at Washington University’s School of Business in St. Louis.

Prior to working in university administration, Noda was a psychiatric social worker.

She graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in social work, earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and another one in business administration from Washington University, and attended the Management Development Program at Harvard's Graduate School of Education.

“I am particularly grateful to the three HMC presidents I have served,” said Noda. “Hank Riggs gave me the opportunity; Jon Strauss offered support and guidance; and Maria Klawe provided energy for change. But no group made my Harvey Mudd life more fulfilling than the student and faculty leadership who have generously shared their vision and efforts with me for the past 15 years.”

A national search for Noda’s replacement will begin in September. The search committee will include individuals representing HMC students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees.

Guy Gerbick, HMC’s associate dean for residential life, has agreed to serve as interim dean of students while the search is conducted. Former proctor Jason Santiago ’07 will handle Gerbick’s residential life responsibilities during the 2008-09 academic year.

“I predict a very smooth transition,” said Noda. “Harvey Mudd College is privileged to have dedicated, seasoned leaders in all of the student affairs offices. It has been a pleasure to work with them.”