[Bryn Mawr College] President Kim Cassidy announced March 16 that Jennifer L. Walters has been named the new dean of the Undergraduate College at Bryn Mawr. Walters is currently associate dean of the College for Community Life and Dean of Religious Life at Smith College.

Bryn Mawr’s Board of Trustees, advised by a search committee of faculty, staff, students, and alumnae/i unanimously approved the appointment.

“From a robust pool of applicants, Jennifer stood out to students, staff, and faculty alike as a candidate with a deep understanding of and commitment to inclusion, agency, and academic excellence,” said Cassidy in making the announcement.

Walters has served as both the acting director of the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Center for Community Collaboration at Smith. She is co-director of the Women’s Narratives Project and works with the Steinem Initiative to connect academics and women’s social justice movements. Walters also co-taught multicultural health education and intergroup dialogue at University of Michigan and was a co-founder of the first New England conferences on women and AIDS and the first health and wellness programs for people with HIV. She holds degrees from Marquette University, Boston College, Michigan State University, and the Episcopal Divinity School.

“In my conversations with Jennifer Walters, it was clear that she understands and hopes to further her knowledge about Bryn Mawr,” said Pam Gassman ’16, who co-chaired the search committee with Chief Enrollment Officer Pelema Morrice. “My interactions with Jennifer were fun and thoughtful. Her questions stood out in the student sessions, in that she asked questions focusing on student life and experience. I have great hopes for Jennifer, and look forward to seeing the ways in which she and the next generation of students will transform and keep alive the spirit of Bryn Mawr.”

Walters will assume the role in late July.