Nicole Hall stepped into her new position as the University’s senior associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students last week, following Cedric Rucker’s retirement from the role. In this position, Hall’s priorities include increased support to student self-governance and fostering deeper connections with the student body.
“It's really about ensuring and building upon the student experience,” Hall said, “I support all students at U.Va.”
Hall will oversee the professional staff within the Office of the Dean of Students and manage student support services, including student development, leadership training and academic success programs in this position. She will also work to enhance the student experience across academic, social and professional development areas for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Hall was selected for the role through the University’s executive search committee, composed of eight faculty and two students — Valentina Mendoza Gonzalez, former Student Council president and fourth-year College student, and Law student Morgan Hughes. Hall was one of numerous candidates who underwent an extensive interview process, beginning with an initial screening before advancing to interviews. As a finalist, she spent a day and a half in interviews, meeting with over 35 individuals to discuss her vision for the role. The process ended in a formal interview with University President Jim Ryan before she was offered the position.
Hall joined the Division of Student Affairs two years ago as associate vice president for career and professional development. She described her time at the Career Center as rewarding and impactful, as it allowed her to collaborate with over 100 professionals and student leaders to address the needs of the student body. Hall said this experience drew her to the dean of students role, where she can expand her work with student leaders and meet student needs on a broader scale.
“My focus is on creating a holistic student experience, really thinking about how students develop in [every] way,” Hall said. “...I will work with my team to create programming and resources that are truly preparing students, not only to have an exceptional experience at U.Va., but also to make that successful transition from Grounds to career.”
One way Hall plans to do this is by collaborating more with student-self governance organizations, something she believes is important for students at the University.
“I think student self-governance at U.Va. is a very unique and compelling model for student development,” Hall said. “So I want to do everything that I can, to continue to support and to really build upon and enhance with them in partnership.”
Another way Hall plans to connect more with the student body is by gaining access to them and learning their needs. She said she is eager to engage with students across Grounds to identify opportunities that could enhance their experience at the University.
She will also continue some of the initiatives started by Rucker. One of these initiatives is “Dialogue with the Dean,” where he scheduled to meet with students in different locations across Grounds, giving students an informal space to chat with the dean and voice their concerns. Hall also appreciated Rucker’s series of Sunday brunches with student leaders and plans to launch a similar initiative.
“[Dialogue with the Dean] was an excellent way for him to stay abreast of what students were thinking about. To me, that's really important,” Hall said. “The other thing that I really appreciated that he did … was the series of Sunday brunches … I want to be able to launch something similar, where I can keep an open dialogue and receive feedback.”
Hall also plans to connect with students by expanding access to mentorship and networking opportunities. She said she hopes to build upon existing mentorship programs across Grounds while emphasizing the University’s connection to its alumni network. Hall noted that thousands of alumni are currently signed up as mentors, and she wants to make it easier for students to connect with them across different industries.
Reflecting on her first week in the position, Hall said she has enjoyed the experience and has already been invited to numerous events, giving her the opportunity to connect more with the University community.
“This last week has been phenomenal, just to have a chance to connect with our alumni, to connect with our students and to just experience the fullness of this place,” Hall said. “I feel like things are off to a great start, and you can imagine my calendar is filling up in the best way possible.”
Hall succeeds Cedric Rucker, who served as interim dean of students since August 2023 and will retire after advising the vice president for Student Affairs until June. She said that while her and Rucker differ on some ideas, the two share the same passion for the role.
“We have differences,” Hall said, “But I think what we share is the priority and love for students and really wanting to do every single thing that we can to make an impact on their experience and ensure that as positive.”
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