She’s Here!
President Chapdelaine Arrives on Campus
The office walls are still mostly blank and the moving van only just arrived, so there are plenty of boxes to unpack at the house. President Andrea E. Chapdelaine’s tenure officially started July 1 at Connecticut College, but July 18 was her first full day on campus as Conn’s 12th president, as the transition from Maryland proved to be logistically challenging.
Despite the inherent chaos of starting any new job – never mind one as the leader of a top liberal arts institution – Chapdelaine was calm and ready. Hardly a surprise, considering her more than 30 years in higher education and nearly a decade as president of Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.
“I’ve done some of this before,” she said with a smile.
The first order of the day was to get to know Conn with a thorough tour. Walking building to building across campus, the new president greeted as many members of the campus as possible. That aligns with what she views as one of her highest priorities.
“I think one of the first things, one of the most important things, I need to do is earn the trust of Connecticut College,” Chapdelaine asserted.
While she has a long list of tasks that need immediate attention, including reviewing and addressing Conn’s budget, continuing to address the College’s physical renovation and rehabilitation needs, and the filling of several senior administration positions, Chapdelaine repeatedly returned to one theme: the human element.
“If you talk to people who love the College – alums, current students, faculty and staff – they all point to the people as what they love most,” the president reflected. “The College has so many strengths, so it is hard to pick just one, but the people must be at the top.”
That’s why connecting with so many on campus is such an immediate goal. In addition to the importance of earning Conn’s trust, it aids Chapdelaine in her evolving and expanding understanding of what it means to be a Camel.
“At first, it is like a really beautiful painting,” she said. “You see it from a distance, and you want to be part of it. As you get closer, you realize it is a puzzle, or a mosaic, made up of many parts. It’s nuanced and rich, and as you study it more, you gain a deeper appreciation for it.”
A few of her favorite things
What was your first concert? “You’re going to laugh, but Elvis. 1976. He had the white jumpsuit and everything.”
What’s your favorite band? “I’m definitely a product of my generation so indie, alternative ’80s music. INXS, the Cure, R.E.M. I love U2. But if I had to say one, it would be INXS.”
What’s your favorite food or cuisine? “Oh, I definitely love food. I think Indian. We’ve already found [the best Indian restaurant in town].”
What’s the best book you’ve read recently? That’s difficult because I don’t get much time to read for fun. I listen to them—you know what, I think that counts. Right? I’d say Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow then.”
What are you looking forward to most about being back in New England? “Misquamicut. My husband and I have now been together for 34 years, and we went to Misquamicut on our second date. So when we got back here, I said, right away, we had to go to the beach.”
What do you think your Bernedoodle, Koda (short for Kodachrome), will love most about life in Connecticut? “Well, we took her to the beach, and she went wild, so that’s one. All the people, of course. And she loves the backyard. It’s a really big, beautiful backyard, and I look forward to hosting events for members of this great community.”
