Meet the CARE Team

Dean of Students

Victor J. Arcelus was appointed dean of students effective July 1, 2015. He joined Connecticut College in July 2013 as the dean of student life. He is charged with enhancing and extending the personal and intellectual development of the College's diverse student body. A specialist in holistic learning, Arcelus oversees residential education and living, student engagement and leadership education, health and counseling services, sexual violence education and advocacy, student wellness and health education and the College’s student-governed conduct process. Arcelus reports to the President.

varcelus@conncoll.edu Phone: (860) 439-2825 College Center at Crozier-Williams, Room 218

Senior Associate Dean of Student Life

As the Senior Associate Dean of Student Life, Sarah has oversight of the College's conduct processes, new student orientation, and wellness programs. She works closely with the Director of Student Wellness, Alcohol and Other Drug Education and the Director of Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy. Sarah serves as the case manager for the CARE Team.

scardwel@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2839

Dean of Academic Support and Director of the Academic Resource Center

Joining Connecticut College in 2013, Noel serves as both the Dean of Academic Support and the Director of the Academic Resource Center. As dean, he oversees the Academic Resource Center and the writing center. Noel serves as a liaison between the Dean of the College and faculty regarding areas that have to do with student academic success. Along with his student involvement, he also collaborates with all deans in the Office of the Dean of the College in providing effective and timely academic support to Connecticut College. Earning his doctorate in clinical, cognitive, social, and developmental psychology, Noel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having previously worked as class dean at Wesleyan University.

“Dare you have the courage to know who you really are.” - Rumi

ngarrett@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-5142

Associate Dean of the College and Dean of First-Year Students

, visiting instructor in art history and architectural studies, is associate dean of the College and dean of first-year students. As such, she counsels and advises first-year students on academic matters.

She and her staff facilitate the First-Year Seminar program and train student advisers (SAs) who work with first-year students as part of the Team Advising program. With the Office of Student Life, they also organize and run orientation.

Since joining Connecticut College in 2012, Morash has taught a range of courses that illustrate how social, political and cultural events shape the built environment, ranging from the Arts and Crafts movement to contemporary architecture to public housing in America. She worked with the First-Year Seminar Steering Committee, First-Year Seminar Pilot Programs and working groups to develop the first-year seminar component of Connections. Her ConnCourse, “Building Culture,” was first offered in 2015-16 and is an interdisciplinary survey of the history of architecture.

emorash@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2050 Fanning Hall

Associate Dean of the College, Dean of Sophomores, International Student Adviser

As Associate Dean of the College/Dean of Sophomores, Carmela Patton is responsible for working directly with sophomore students and for developing programming that helps sophomores strengthen their connections with the College while helping them prepare to select a major, apply to the College's academic centers and move successfully into their upper-class years.

As the International Student Adviser, Patton works with international students during all four undergraduate years. In collaboration with the dean of first-year students and the dean of juniors and seniors, she assists in creating a successful undergraduate experience for international students.

Dean Patton earned her Laurea Degree from the University of Bari, Italy, and her master's degree in Italian studies from the University of Connecticut. She joined Connecticut College in 2007 as the international student adviser. She started her position as Dean of Sophomores in 2012. Dean Patton is a native speaker of Italian and enjoys teaching courses on Italian language and culture.

carmela.patton@conncoll.edu Phone: 860-439-2050 Fanning Hall 206

Faculty Profile

Assistant Dean for Residential Education and Living

Sara began her career in higher education in 1998 worked at several small colleges before coming to Connecticut College in 2012. She came to Connecticut College because she believes in its mission and values — most specifically its focus on equity and inclusion. Sara is responsible for overseeing the department and directly supervises the professional staff team. Sara has her bachelor's in psychology from Westminster College, a master's in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota, and a doctorate in human development with an emphasis in higher education administration. She lives on campus with her family.

srothenb@conncoll.edu

Director of Campus Safety

Director of Student Counseling Services

Janet Spoltore holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Delaware and a master's in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She completed her internships at Boston VA Medical Center and Boston University Medical Center and held previous academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, Tufts Medical School and Antioch University. 

janet.spoltore@conncoll.edu