People news: Hartwick College names new dean of students

ONEONTA, N.Y. — Hartwick College has recently appointed Cary Dresher as the college’s new dean of students.

Dresher, who has been serving as acting dean of students since June, will lead efforts to enhance the college’s signature 360-degree wrap-around student-experience support. He will provide overall direction, administration, and leadership of a student-centered team that includes health and wellness, residential life and student conduct, and student leadership and engagement.

“Cary is keenly aware and appreciates Hartwick’s deep commitment to student success,” Darren Reisberg, the college’s president said in an Oct. 4 news release. “He brings an exceptional understanding of guiding and advocating students’ needs along with experience in retention and inclusive excellence. I know he will further Hartwick’s deep commitment to providing our students with the best possible experience.”

Dresher brings more than 13 years of experience to the role, five of which have been at Hartwick. His track record of success at the college includes expanding the number of full-time counseling staff, working collaboratively to launch the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, and the SOAR mentoring program, and creating greater collaboration between the Office of Student Experience and colleagues across campus. Dresher also wrote the college’s tobacco and vaping policy that went into effect in January 2022, making Hartwick a smoke and tobacco-free campus, the college said.

Before joining Hartwick College, Dresher served in a variety of capacities at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, including as dean of student living and learning, associate dean of the Off-Campus Commons, and assistant dean of the Student First-Year Experience & Parent Liaison.

Dresher earned a doctorate degree in education from Northeastern University. He also holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern Maine and a bachelor’s degree from American University. He earned his administrative certification at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.