 Table of Contents  News of the CollegeLetters Credits News & Publications Alumni Homepage Reed's Homepage Email us at: reed.magazine @reed.edu Today is Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:51 AM |
 Dick Dent, director of financial aid, retiresDick Dent, Reed's director of financial aid for 27 years, retired on May 15. Dent was described as a Reed College "institution," and as "one of the most respected and admired members of our staff" by President Steven Koblik and as "a voice of reason, experience, honesty, and concern for the college and its students," by Jim Tederman, vice president and dean of student services. Dent's absence will be felt by students and administrators alike.Dent attended Lewis & Clark College and the Oregon College of Education Graduate Studies, where he received his B.A. in 1964 and his M.S. in 1970. Upon his graduation, Dent was hired by Reed as an administrative officer. Two years later, he was promoted to his current position, where he worked with students and parents to arrange for needed financial aid. As tuition prices rose nationwide, Dent continued to support this need-based policy of financial aid, rather than switching to merit-based programs as many other colleges have done. Reed requires each student to submit applications and tax returns before eligibility for financial aid is determined, whereas many other colleges award scholarships for athletic ability, academic excellence, or minority status. "Our need-based policy allows for greater socio-economic diversity," explains Marlene Schmitt, who replaces Dent as director of financial aid. "All students must be academically meritorious to be admitted by Reed. However, if the family's economic resources are not sufficient to afford the cost of attendance, the college can determine need and provide institutional and federal assistance." Dent managed to continue this policy despite the fact that Reed's endowment is substantially smaller than most colleges its size. "Dick has been a constant advocate of the needs-based program," said Ed McFarlane, vice president/treasurer. At a college such as Reed, where almost half of the students receive financial aid, the position of financial aid director involves a great deal of responsibility and visibility. Dent filled this position admirably, managing one of the college's largest budgets with no deficits or shortfalls--which is not, as Ed McFarlane noted, "a track record most financial aid directors can claim." While the budget remained under control, Dent still managed to meet the entire demonstrated need of each continuing student who qualified for financial aid. As more than one student put it, "Without Dick, I wouldn't be at Reed." Dent's contributions to Reed were honored at an awards ceremony May 20. President Koblik spoke about Dent's career, describing him as an "incredibly loyal and respected employee, whose absence will be sorely missed, both personally and professionally."
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Achievements continuedThe graduating seniors awarded with NSF fellowships for 1997-98:Akesha Lightrain Baron '97, of Seattle, Washington, who will be studying linguistics at the University of South Africa, with a focus on the Zulu language. James Farrell '97, of Del Mar, California, who will be working with Reed physics professor John Powell under an HHMI grant before going on to study biophysics at the California Institute of Technology. Douglas Squirrel '97, of Portland, Oregon, who will be studying mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley. Recent alumni granted fellowships: Wylie Neal Harris '96, of Saint Jo, Texas, who is studying biology at the University of New Mexico. Nicholas James Kaplinsky '93, of Palo Alto, California, who is studying genetics at the University of California, Berkeley. Elizabeth Gallant King '93, of Gainesville, Florida, who is studying rare plant ecology and conservation at the Center for Population Biology at the University of California, Davis. Matthew Benjamin Kleban '96, of Orono, Maine, who is studying theoretical physics at the University of California, Berkeley. Katharine Karla Reeves '96, of Portland, Oregon, who is studying biophysics at Northeastern University. Lori Michelle Roberts '95, who is studying cell biology at the University of California, San Francisco. In addition, two alumni were granted NSF honorable mentions: Gabriel Shaw Brandt '92, of Dayton, Ohio, who is studying bioorganics at the California Institute of Technology. Margaret Eleanor Katharine Evans '93, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, who is studying plant ecology at the University of Arizona. |
