SIT hires new dean for student well-being

Announcement Date: September 11, 2019

BRATTLEBORO, Vermont -- School for International Training is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Zoll has joined SIT in a new position as Dean of Student Health, Safety, and Well-being.

Dr. Zoll brings to this role more than three decades of leadership experience in student affairs and international education.

He leads an expanded SIT team of professionals responsible for counseling services; accessibility; equity, diversity and inclusion, safety and risk management. His department works with SIT’s undergraduate and graduate programs worldwide.

"As students and their needs change, so must our approaches to supporting them through their educational journey. We are thrilled to have Mike Zoll join SIT to lead a student support unit that focuses on health, safety, and well-being," said Dr. Sophia Howlett, president of SIT. "Mike's combination of experience—both at institutions and with a provider, as well as in faculty and administrative positions—equips him with the expertise necessary to help SIT enhance our student services and support operations to meet the needs of the contemporary student."

The new position represents an expansion of leadership responsibilities on SIT’s student services and support team. The addition of ‘well-being’ within the title of this deanship is a strong statement that SIT supports the full student and their learning, particularly around sensitive topics such as identity, diversity, and accessibility, added Dr. Howlett.

“I look forward to meeting and working with SIT’s extraordinary students on programs that are often described as life-changing,” said Dr. Zoll, who said he also plans to work closely with SIT’s University Relations team in their outreach to partner institutions.

"Each year, more than 300 colleges and universities approve their students to participate in SIT programs. In addition to supporting all our students, must we support our partner schools," said Mory Pagel, executive director of SIT's Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships. "Mike understands the needs of our partners and is committed to working together with them to ensure both they and their students are supported when they are with SIT."

Prior to joining SIT on September 1, Dr. Zoll was vice president and senior executive for the Institute for Shipboard Education at Semester at Sea, where he led multiple departments including student and academic affairs, enrollment, risk management, and program administration. He led more than a dozen Semester at Sea voyages, including several as executive dean, visiting more than 75 countries.

He has also held administrative and faculty positions at Saint Mary’s College of California (vice provost), Mount Saint Mary’s University (dean of students and adjunct faculty), Gonzaga University (associate dean of students), Harvey Mudd College/Claremont Colleges (associate dean of students/dean of residence life) and College of the Holy Cross (assistant dean of students).

He earned an EdD in organizational leadership from University of La Verne; has master’s degree in higher education and student affairs administration from University of Vermont; and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and religious studies from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Dr. Zoll is based on SIT's Vermont campus.