Lindholm assumes leadership of Cook Commons

Author: Tamara Hilmes

Former Dean of Advising Karl Lindholm was appointed dean of Cook Commons on Jan. 8 by Gus Jordan, acting dean of the College. Lindholm, who is also an assistant professor of American literature, had served as acting dean since the departure of former Dean of Cook Commons Matt Carluzzo this past August.

Carluzzo himself had succeeded David Edleson, one of the founding members of the 1998 decentralized commons system. Edleson decided to take leave of the College in 2007 due to the emergence of what he described as a "top-down" decision-making culture.Lindholm, much like Edleson, is old hat when it comes to the commons system, and was asked by Jordan to step into Carluzzo's old role this past fall on an indefinite basis.

Lindholm graduated from the College in 1967, and worked as assistant dean of students from 1976 until 1991, when things were "reshuffled."

He has been involved with the commons system since it first began in its more centralized form in 1991, when commons deans had offices not within the dorms, but in administrative buildings.

Between 1991 and 1999, Lindholm and his wife, Reginald L. Cook Professor of American Literature Brett Millier, served as the faculty heads of Atwater Commons.

"I like the commons system," said Lindholm. "I've been involved with it from the outset." He went on to explain his various roles in the student affairs sector of the College.

"I have always been available to pinch-hit for the Dean [of the College]," said Lindholm, who has published several articles and presented several times on the subject of baseball.

"I have been a faculty head, Dean of Wonnacott, and Dean of Advising."

Lindholm explained that he has always been ready and willing to play whatever role the College needed - though he is particularly excited about his new position as commons dean, which he sees as an opportunity to connect with students both on a student-professor basis and on a more personal level.

"There's a cliché about the work of commons deans," Lindholm explained. "Broken windows and broken hearts. Basically what we encounter are very intense relationships with individual students in a crisis. Essentially both the beginning and ending of the relationship are based in the crisis."

The ideal dean, according to Lindholm, would combine an interest in student life with an interest in academics. In his newly acquired position, Lindholm will still be encouraged to teach at least one course a semester, a task he eagerly anticipates.

"I'm glad," he said, "It makes good use of my skills and background." Lindholm went on to call himself a "true hybrid," referring to his ability to combine his interest in providing great "student services" and more academic goals, such as a few writing projects that he would like to complete before he turns "100 years old."

Aside from research and writing goals, Lindholm does not have an extensive roadmap for the year ahead. According to him, after next year, his future is still rather indefinite. He explained that he has no particular goals within the commons system because it is something "natural and organic."

Over the course of his career at the College, Lindholm has been involved with all five commons, though he admits that he still has a lot to learn about Cook. "I'm so grateful to the team that was already here," he said. Lindholm said that people like Cook Commons Coordinator Linda Schiffer, as well as C.A. Dana Professor of Italian and Cook Commons Head Patricia Zupan, have helped him immensely in adjusting to the new environment. Commons Residential Adviser Andy Mittelman '08 has also been a crucial resource.

"I'm dependent upon them," explained Lindholm. "I have not wanted to intrude and to disrupt the conventions they've found. So far I have defined the job very narrowly, and haven't gone to things like the commons council meetings. I let Andy continue to be my link there."

Overall, Lindholm admits that this appointment was made "quite by accident" and that when he was asked to stand in as acting dean, his subsequent appointment as dean of the commons was not guaranteed. Though it came somewhat as a surprise, Lindholm is thrilled with the opportunity.

"I'm happy. This is a role I like," he said. "The length of time is indefinite, but I'm old. I graduated in '63 and my future does not loom out before me. I'll do next year, then we'll see. I'm a lot older than the other deans, but they've been nice to me," Lindholm joked. "I fit the job description exactly - I'm just 25 years too late."