Leadership changes will occur at the end of the year in the Student Life Division of the University of the South. Dean of Students W. Marichal Gentry, C’86, has decided to pursue new professional opportunities and will leave his position effective Dec. 31, 2020. At the first of the year, Nicole Noffsinger-Frazier, C’97, currently associate dean of health and wellness, will move into her new role of associate provost for student life and dean of students.

After graduating from Sewanee, Noffsinger-Frazier earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Memphis and completed a predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, and had a private practice as a psychologist. She returned to the Mountain in 2010 and has served as a staff psychologist, the executive director of University Wellness Center, Psychology Department faculty member, and associate dean. She has established partnerships with other organizations and received significant grant funding to support programs promoting student wellbeing and flourishing.

“Nicole will bring an orientation toward individual student strengths to her position as dean, building on the excellent work done by Marichal,” said Provost Nancy Berner. “She will use her particular background to cultivate a flourishing community where every student is supported holistically to grow and develop. Every Sewanee student—not only those who visit the Wellness Center—will enjoy the benefits of her experience.”

The University will begin a search for the next director of the University Wellness Center, which will remain a cohesive unit as part of the Student Life Division.

Gentry has been a visible presence on campus during his more than five years of service to the University. When he returned to Sewanee, Gentry brought with him not only student life experience from Middlebury College and Yale University, but experience in pediatric social work at Duke University as well. He and his team of student life professionals care for and about Sewanee students and their development as global citizens, and he has been a consistent cheerleader for our students’ success.

Dean of the College Terry Papillon has observed that Gentry has made significant improvements in the Student Life Division, diversifying the student life staff, modernizing procedures, and creating possibilities for increased student leadership. His work has given him the opportunity to engage with nearly every office on campus.

Gentry also has served the Sewanee community in several ways, including by sponsoring Sewanee’s Little League baseball team last year (they honored him by naming the team after him!), and by serving on the Board for Arcadia at Sewanee, whose members are dedicated to building a residential living community to serve older adults.