Dean Scott Barnicle, Mastering the Mountains and the Commons

Author: Amy Brais

Scott Barnicle is the dean of Atwater Commons. He lives in Middlebury, Vt., with his wife, one-and-a-half-year old daughter and four-year-old son, all of whom keep him "very, very busy, but are always a source of a lot of fun," he conceded. When he's not working, Barnicle enjoys any sort of physical activity, particularly running, back country telemark skiing and sea kayaking. The Middlebury Campus spoke with Barnicle about his role as Dean and his thoughts on his job and responsibilities.



Campus: What did you do before coming to Middlebury?

Barnicle: I did a lot of different things. I spent about 10 years between my undergrad and grad work and in that time traveled a lot and was a climbing bum, among other things. I went to school in Seattle and did my graduate work there and got a degree in counseling. In Seattle I worked as a high school counselor.

Campus: How long have you been at Middlebury?

Barnicle: I've been here three and a half years, so this is my fourth year. I started out as the associate director of student life before I was the dean of Atwater Commons. The whole commons system as Middlebury now knows it with the deans in the first-year dorms, started three years ago. In my short time here, it's been really interesting to work in this kind of community where history and tradition change so fast. It's exciting — each year brings new students, new concerns, new challenges. That's the beauty of the quick regeneration of history.

Campus: What would you say is the best part of your job?

Barnicle: My favorite part of my job is the people. That's the whole reason I do it. It's a neat way to be able to have conversations with individuals and helps you get a sense of the campus on a broader spectrum. Ideally, I'm able to provide help or services to people that they wouldn't be able to otherwise obtain. I've found that it's even fun to help people work through any issues they might have without them having to go through a more formalized system. A student could walk into my office to discuss anything from a problem they were having with their major or to say that they're locked out of their room and need a key.

Campus: What would you say is the most difficult part of your job?

Barnicle: Dealing with disciplinary issues and paperwork. Also, people tend to stigmatize the word "dean," which makes it harder to get to know people on a personal level. I think I can speak for the rest of the deans when I say that it's that aspect of the job, getting to know and help students, that we love the most and that most benefits the students.

Campus: What is a typical day like for you?

Barnicle: I have no idea. I say that because there is no routine. I have a lot of set responsibilities, but a lot of situations tend to arise, and you have to figure out a way to prioritize them. I'll come in to work in the morning thinking I'm going to do one thing and end up doing something completely different. I've tried for four years to define what it is that I do, and I can't do it in less than an hour. Though the job is tricky to define, one constant is that it never lacks in challenge.

Campus: Would you like to comment on the commons system?

Barnicle: One thing I will say is that Middlebury has made a commitment to the commons system of significant magnitude. That commitment speaks to Middlebury's commitment to people. When I was a high school counselor, some of our most pressing issues were dealing with chewing gum in class and running in the hallways.

The issues people grapple with now are more profound; they range all the way to STDs and suicide. I feel that Middlebury educates the whole person and ultimately creates a citizen. As a dean, what I try to do is to put the challenges out to students.

A huge part of college is examining who you are, and it's some of the most important work you do here. If you're able to do that work well, and start that process that could take a lifetime to finish, then you're off to a good start.

Campus: What makes Atwater Commons unique?

Barnicle: We start out by being on the periphery of the campus, which give Atwater a neat position. I also think that Allen, with 95 residents, is the perfect size for a first-year dormitory experience. We have also been fortunate to have great people in Atwater.