Office of the Dean

Meet the Dean

Tamara Futrell was appointed Assistant Dean of Students in July 2003 and Associate Dean of Students in July 2006. She has over 14 years of professional experience in the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs with expertise in diversity and inclusion issues, Black Greek Life, leadership development, new student orientation, sophomore programs, residential life and facilities management, staff management and student development.

Prior to her arrival at Washington and Lee University, Dean Futrell served as an area coordinator and the director of first-year and sophomore programs at Hollins University. While at Hollins, she was instrumental in restructuring the residential life program and wrote the curriculum for the university's inaugural resident assistant class. In addition, she developed programs and initiatives geared towards the retention and leadership development of first-year and sophomore students.

Dean Futrell was born and reared in Newport News, Va. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., in 1994. She continued her education at Longwood College (University) in Farmville, Va., where she received a Master of Science degree in Education with a concentration in Community and College Counseling in 1996. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the Higher Education Program at Virginia Tech.

Having a breadth of knowledge in housing, residential life, leadership and student development, she had facilitated over 100 presentations, workshops and classes related to the transitional issues of freshmen and sophomores, residential life, leadership development, peer mentoring and black Greek life.

A History:

The Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion assists the Assistant Dean for First-Year Experience and the Office of International Education in orienting students to W&L, and is the key student affairs contact for diversity initiatives. In addition to providing oversight of Black Greek Life and serving as advisor to several student organizations, the Associate Dean provides personal counseling and advising to individual students and acts as a liaison to other university and community resources.

Before the university appointed anyone to coordinate diversity and inclusion, students of color formed a strong friendship with Marjorie Poindexter, a popular woman who was W&L's first black secretary. Mrs. Poindexter had no affiliation with the Dean of Students' Office, but students frequently went to her office for advice, words of encouragement, or just to talk and keep company. By 1973, however, the university recognized the need to create a position within the office of the Dean of Students that would address the needs and concerns of students of color.

The first person to serve in the new post of Assistant Dean and Director of Minority Affairs was the Reverend Lutrelle D. Rainey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington. Rainey also served as an adjunct professor in the sociology department. Donald Wills replaced Rainey in 1974, and he also served as assistant director of placement. Wills left Washington and Lee in 1976 when Dean Lewis G. John hired Curtis H. Hubbard. Hubbard had retired from a career in the military and both he, and his wife, had deep roots in Lexington and Rockbridge County. John L. White, an alumnus of the Class of 1974, replaced Hubbard in 1979 and served as Director of Minority Affairs until 1985. During the last years of his tenure he was also a part time law student. The job changed dramatically when Washington and Lee admitted women to the undergraduate division in 1985. At this time the University hired Ms. Anece McCloud as the new Associate Dean for Minority Affairs. McCloud headed the office until 1999, during which time she also coordinated International Student Affairs. Courtney Penn, an alumnus of the Class of 1992 replaced McCloud and served as Associate Dean for Minority Affairs until 2003. Tamara Futrell succeeded Courtney, in 2003, and currently holds the position of Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion.

Understanding that diversity strengthens the academic enterprise, the University commits itself to welcoming and nurturing all members of the community. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion supports the University mission by identifying and implementing initiatives to achieve an increased minority presence at the University and a more inclusive community. Additionally, the ODI attempts to act as a catalyst for all students wishing to explore critical issues on campus related to race, class, ethnicity, gender, nationality and sexual orientation.