333 Egbert Hall
607-274-3374
mdawson@ithaca.edu
Marsha Dawson joined Ithaca College in 2019 as the Director of Residential Life and now serves as Dean of Students (DOS) with the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life (SACL). Her passion for leadership development and working with students flourished as an undergraduate Resident Assistant (RA) at Eastern Connecticut State University. Her previous experience includes a career in Student Affairs, specifically in Student Activities, Residential Life, and Student Conduct from Mount Saint Mary College in NY, the University of Hartford in CT, and The New School, in NYC. In her current role as DOS, Marsha works with the Executive Assistant, the Executive Director, and the Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Life as stewards of student learning, and development, emphasizing student persistence.
As Dean, Marsha chairs the Postvention Committee, the Ithaca College Community Workgroup, and the Campus Move In Committee and collaborates with different offices and programs to enhance the student experience. A crucial role of DOS is to add value to leaders who multiply value to others. In doing so, the goal is to provide student support, be a resource, and advocate for students. The work is facilitated through the supervision and leadership of Directors from the offices of:
- Case Management
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- Health and Wellness Promotions
- Residential Life
- Student Accessibility Services
- Student Conduct and Community Standards
Throughout her two decades in Higher Education, Marsha has been a member or presented at various professional conferences, including ACUHO-I, NEACUHO, ASCA, ACE Women's Network, AABHE, ACPA, and NASPA, all national organizations centered on Student Affairs. In addition to her work in Higher Education, Marsha is passionate about providing service to her community. Her volunteer work includes working with individuals with Acquired Brain Injury, being a "dorm" manager for women at the Bowery Mission Shelter, service work in the township of Masiphumelele, South Africa, reporting on call as a Victims Advocate in NYC, and currently serving as a Board of Director for the Tompkins County Advocacy Center. Marsha is looking forward to continuing to foster connections in the broader Ithaca community and enhancing the student experience here on Ithaca College's campus.