Office of the Dean of Women.

Dorothy McSparran Arnold (? - 1971) received a B.A. from Cornell University in 1918. She was a professor and administrator at Washington Square College for forty-three years. Arriving in 1924 as a young instructor in the English department, Arnold found a ten-year old college with a strong commitment to women's undergraduate education. A year after her arrival she became involved in the other side of college life - the development of the student's social and moral character. She went into student affairs. During the 1925-26 school year, Mrs. Arnold began her work as a counselor and administrator for women students at Washington Square College. She was named chairman of the faculty committee on women's interests and, as the catalog for that year states: "matters affecting the interests of girls in the college should be referred to Mrs. Arnold."

Her activities ranged over all aspects of student life. The next year she became the official Advisor to Women. In December of 1928, the Council appointed Mrs. Arnold an Assistant Dean, recognizing her as an administrator. She had received her academic promotion to Assistant Professor in 1926 and continued to perform the role of women's advisor without change in salary.

She continued as an Assistant Dean until November of 1948 when she became Dean of Women. She reported directly to the Dean of Washington Square College and had jurisdiction over women students' physical, social and moral well-being. She served as Dean until her retirement in 1961. As Advisor and Dean, Mrs. Arnold was concerned with promoting the welfare of women students. She worked with the students, providing continuity, structure and the development of new programs for women. In addition to extensive personal counseling, she served as--the active advisor to most of the campus' women's organizations. Her office organized or coordinated many of the activities of the League of Women, women's honorary and social societies and women's athletics. She was also effective in developing a peer-counseling program to aid freshwomen and transfer-students' adjustment to college life. The Junior Advisors Committee, under her direction, was an important resource for newcomers and a place to recognize out-standing junior women. The League of Women, the Eclectic honorary society and Pan-Hellenic Council were other vehicles for recognizing and developing women student leaders.

As an administrator Mrs. Arnold worked for women students, providing representation on college committees directly concerned with student issues. She was a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee for Women's Athletics, Faculty Committee on fraternities and sororities connected with the Student Committee on Educational Policy, various scholarship committees and the committee on faculty-student advising. She was also an advisor on disciplinary, and financial aid matters. As a Dean she participated on college and university governance committees; the Cabinet of the College, Advisement Council and the Council of Deans.

As a woman administrator before feminist ideas took root, Mrs. Arnold was frequently assigned (or assumed) non-academic responsibilities presumably suited to the "special touches" a woman could provide. The organization of public social occasions and social service projects fell on her shoulders. She ran Red Cross Blood Drives, alumnae/i Christmas parties, mother-daughter teas, and the Art Competition. She was also in charge of the administration and decoration of the lounges.

Mrs. Arnold was the women students' official advocate in the administration. She was both nurturer and authority figure. She was also the college's housekeeper and hostess. How did her roles affect women students' lives and her influence within the college's administrative structure? Her papers present more questions than the answer. Dean Pollock once said "It took three people to replace her" because of the overwhelming amount of responsibility that she executed from day to day. She was respected by her colleagues for her fairness, firmness and good taste. She helped shape the college experience of hundreds of women and its impact on the college is still unexplored.

Dean Dorothy McSparran Arnold died on November 22, 1971.

From the guide to the Records of the Dean of Women, Washington Square College, Dorothy McSparran Arnold, 1924-1962, (New York University Archives)