Hoppe, who will join Bowdoin on July 29, 2024, comes to the College from Emerson College in Boston, where he has served as vice president and dean of campus life since 2016. He previously served for twelve years in various roles at Macalester College, most recently as dean of students.
“Jim’s appointment is the result of a comprehensive national search,” President Safa Zaki said. “His impressive track record of advocating for students and providing resources in the areas of inclusion, community building, and discourse, and his dedication to the field of student mental health and well-being, align so well with our culture, values, and mission, and I am delighted to welcome him to Bowdoin.”
Students are at the center of Bowdoin’s core purpose, and this role—overseeing advising, athletics, career planning, health and wellness, and student and residential life—is critical to that mission. Hoppe’s focus will be on the excellent student experience for which Bowdoin is so well known. He will lead the College into the next chapter of this work with the talented and devoted 150-member team in the Division of Students Affairs. He will also serve as a member of the College’s senior leadership group.
As senior student affairs officer in his previous role, Hoppe was a change agent in advancing mental health and well-being and in the areas of equity, access, and support for international students, among others. He is known for connecting with students, encouraging opportunities for feedback and input, and supporting student governance.
His experience in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion includes participation in the NASPA Equity Leadership Academy and as team member of the Council of Independent Colleges Civility and Diversity in the Liberal Arts Project.
Hoppe earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science, magna cum laude, at the University of New Mexico, a master’s in higher education and student affairs at Indiana University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies at St. Louis University.
Hoppe succeeds Janet Lohmann, who is retiring after more than twenty years of service to Bowdoin, the last five as senior vice president and dean for student affairs.
