Erica Wonnacott's 'Personal Touch' Reached All Who Knew Her

Author: Claire Bourne

Erica Wonnacott, dean of students emerita who passed away on Sat., March 9, once characterized Middlebury College as "a beacon on the hill," recalled Charles A. Dana Professor of Mathematics John Emerson, who served as dean of the College during Wonnacott's tenure as Middlebury's only administrator to serve under the title of dean of students. "She had the highest, most noble aspirations for the College."

Among these aspirations was the desire to foster personal relationships with as many Middlebury students as possible. In this way, she herself became a beacon. "Erica was a strong, compassionate person who cared deeply about students and the community," remarked Professor Emeritus of Religion and former Dean of the College Steven Rockefeller. "She helped, rescued and touched thousands of students."

Wonnacott arrived at Middlebury in 1968 as assistant dean of women under Elizabeth Kelly. In the spring 1988 edition of Middlebury Magazine, Wonnacott explained that during her first few years at the College she had had "the luxury of not being in charge and … the time to go to lots of student meetings to find out what was going on." She closely observed 1960s student life — from frisbee games on the quad to war protests that typified college life in the latter half of the decade.

When Kelly retired in 1970, President James Armstrong accepted a proposal from Dennis O'Brien, dean of the College at the time, to establish a new administrative position to oversee both male and female students. At the dawning of this new decade, Middlebury was still a "coordinate" school, electing male and female valedictorians and housing men and women on opposite ends of campus. Wonnacott stepped up to the challenge, becoming the College's first dean of students and, according to Rockefeller, "among the very best dean of students to serve at an American college in the past 40 years."

Wonnacott worked on the president's staff and with the Board of Trustees. "She was direct in putting forth her views," said Emerson. He further defined her administrative style as "engaging, courteous, unrestrained and forthright." When "tough" issues came to the fore, Wonnacott "stood up for what she believed was right for the student community," Emerson continued.

The Middlebury Magazine piece chronicled the dean's relationship with the growing African-American student population in the 1970s. Because many of these students came from disadvantaged high schools, "attrition among the black students — for academic and social reasons — was high," the article reported.

Former Associate Director of Admissions James Williams '74 remembered black students' effort to establish a social space on campus. Wonnacott, the article continued, "felt that a house to themselves would increase the isolation of black students in a predominantly white community." Nevertheless, she attended several Black Student Union (BSU) meetings and "listened carefully to what the students had to say," Williams recalled. In 1973, the main lounge of Adirondack House was renovated and reopened as Coltrane Lounge for BSU use.

Despite Wonnacott's administrative title, she "didn't like meetings," remembered Dean of Advising Karl Lindholm '67, who worked in the Dean of Students Office from 1976 until 1988, at a memorial service held for Wonnacott at the Congregational Church in Middlebury last Saturday. "She was not 'process-oriented.' She didn't have a 'philosophy' of deaning; we never wrote a mission statement."

Instead, continued Lindholm, she would "[take] students into her office and [make] them feel as if she had nothing else to do that day but talk to them." She treated students "with respect" and "as mature human beings," explained Emerson.

Some criticized Wonnacott for not being a tougher disciplinarian, Rockefeller said. Both he and Jacqueline Flickinger, former director of campus activities, recalled an incident that they believed clearly illustrated Wonnacott's innovative approach to discipline. During the 1980s, according to Rockefeller, the College's Rugby Club was "causing trouble." Instead of imposing some form of traditional discipline, Wonnacott sent the team outside to plant daffodils on the hill between Hillcrest and Munroe Hall.

"It was humiliating for them to be planting flowers," Flickinger commented. However, students passing by the gardening ruggers soon joined in the festivities.

Even though Wonnacott did not approach her role as disciplinarian with a heavy hand, she "knew more about the situation" because of her willingness to open dialogue with students, Rockefeller pointed out. "She was more concerned about helping them than about punishing them," he elucidated.

She gave students a second chance while teaching them how to be accountable for their actions, recalled Gary Margolis, director of counseling and human relations, who began work at the College four years after Wonnacott's arrival.

Wonnacott's relationship with students transcended the confines of her office. While she cared deeply about their academic and emotional well-being, she also wanted them to have a good time while at Middlebury. "She was fun. She liked fun," Flickinger remarked.

In 1970, the College began the annual tradition of a raft race down Otter Creek as part of Spring Weekend — the last Saturday and Sunday of the academic year before exams. Before Wonnacott conceived of the race, students traditionally organized a demolition derby in front of the Sigma Epsilon fraternity house, which Lindholm described as "old cars smashing each other."

"I thought that rafting would be a fun way to replace that dangerous event," Wonnacott told Middlebury Magazine.

The raft race, Lindholm continued, "involved groups of students building make-shift rafts and floating them down Otter Creek, pulling them out at the high school." Wonnacott instructed Lindholm to stand on Three Mile Bridge to monitor the progress of the event. The raft-constructing effort, he explained, was "accompanied by a lot of drinking, despite the hour." Many rafts were complete with a keg of beer, and students often pulled out of the race, tied their flimsy flotation devices to trees on the bank of the river and drank. Wonnacott and her husband served as safety marshals, patrolling the race from the safety of their canoe, and when students gathered at the field house for a post-race barbeque, the Wonnacotts remained on Otter Creek, pulling debris from the water.

The raft race was a success among students throughout the 1970s. However in 1980, President Olin Robison asked Wonnacott to discontinue the event. In its place, she organized Middlebury's first "May Days" celebration that same year, an event that continues to attract members of the greater Middlebury community as well as students. "These days, in early May, when I see students dressed in pristine white gamboling on the lawn in front of Munroe wrapping the Maypole, I think of its antecedents and say, 'Wow, this ain't much like the raft race — or the demo derby,'" Lindholm recalled.

One year, Wonnacott and Flickinger even taught Emerson how to walk on stilts and invited him back the following year to show off his new talent. "Erica promoted everyday fun things, human things," Emerson commented.

Among the endeavors that characterized Wonnacott's 20-year tenure at Middlebury was the institution of weekly meetings with editors of The Middlebury Campus. Emerson, who also attended these informal discussions, recalled Wonnacott's "generous and trusting" approach to the conversation. "Erica was forthcoming and open unless there was a real constraint," he elucidated. "She took people into confidence even if it was 'off the record.'"

Wonnacott even opened up the farmhouse she and her husband had renovated in Weybridge to students. "She was always sensitive and aware of particular students in need that others wouldn't notice,
" Margolis remarked. She brought those "who needed compassion and a place to be" home with her. After her retirement from the College in 1988, Wonnacott continued to welcome former students and colleagues to her residence.

She continued to work for the betterment of the community after leaving Middlebury. She focused on literacy through volunteer work for, among others, the Vermont Literacy Council, Middlebury's Page 1 Literacy Project and at the Weybridge Elementary School.

"She was one of those renaissance people who put a personal touch on everything," Margolis affirmed. He explained that rather than using e-mail as so many people have done for the past decade, she always hand-wrote letters — to former students, colleagues, acquaintances and friends.

Many of those with Wonnacott's letters tucked away somewhere in a bureau drawer came "home" to Middlebury last Saturday to remember her life and legacy. Crowds packed the Congregational Church in Middlebury, a testament to her far-reaching compassion.

As Flickinger put it, "I can't imagine anyone equaling her."