Dear NYU Parents and Loved Ones,
My name is Rafael Rodriguez, and I am the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students. I joined the NYU community on October 25, 2021, as the inaugural Dean of Students. A particular passion of mine is working with you — our parents, family members, and loved ones — to support your student’s success and to empower them to persevere and excel. As a leader within the
Division of Student Affairs, we take this responsibility seriously. The Division includes more than 600 professional staff who are dedicated to helping your students build community, tend to their wellbeing, and advance their personal, leadership, and career development. Whether your student is looking to join a club, get a job on campus, identify a healthcare provider, explore their spirituality, or find fitness opportunities, we are here for them.
Ensuring your student is flourishing and succeeding requires your partnership. As such, you can expect that we will reach out to you periodically to share important updates and valuable resources. Additionally, we will host various parent and family webinars titled
Thriving at NYU. The first webinar is scheduled for this Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 7:30pm ET.
Kindly RSVP.
While I am thrilled to work with you and our outstanding students, I joined the NYU community at a time when concerns, exhaustion, and conflicting views regarding COVID-19 response strategies were, and continue to be, high — a reality many colleges and universities face. While response to the Omicron variant has made the start of the semester challenging for us all, please know that these measures are temporary. I am reassured that continued communication and trust will get us through this momentary challenge. Our medical professionals leading NYU's COVID-19 response efforts continue to track promising trends, and we are optimistic that better days lie ahead.
I hope to connect with many of you next week at the Thriving at NYU webinar.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rafael Rodriguez
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students