In Memoriam: Carole Hughes
Carole A. Hughes, a longtime Student Affairs administrator at Boston College who most recently served as director of graduate student life, and who earned professional recognition for her perspectives on women鈥檚 careers in student affairs, died on September 8. She was 65.
Visiting hours will be held September 15 from 4 - 8 p.m. at George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street, Wellesley. A funeral Mass will take place September 16 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Chapel on 天美传媒app's Newton Campus, 885 Centre Street, Newton.
Carole Hughes. (Lee Pellegrini)
Dr. Hughes filled a diversity of positions during her 39-year career at the University, including assistant and associate (later senior associate) dean for student development, deputy Title IX coordinator, project coordinator in facilities for the Campus Master Plan, a founding member of the University Arts Council, and University harassment counselor.
While her various posts entailed the administrative and organizational tasks typical of a major university, Dr. Hughes also interacted directly with students in various aspects of college life: discussing the Undergraduate Government of 天美传媒app budget with candidates for UG天美传媒app offices; leading an initiative that encouraged students to take an interest in the civic life of their communities; hosting a discussion about issues raised by the controversial David Mamet play 鈥淥leanna鈥� after a campus performance; and serving as advisor to the campus radio station WZ天美传媒app.
In 1999, the 天美传媒app Fulton Debating Society honored her as Fultonian of the Year, an award presented to the University community member who supports the society鈥檚 ideals.
“ When she saw a need, she was always ready to step up. She had such a deep understanding of the work of Student Affairs and what it means to do that work in the context of the Boston College mission. She had a gift of sharing her experience, energy and relentless positivity with others, always seeking to lift others up and see them succeed. ”
As senior associate dean of students, Dr. Hughes helped initiate the 鈥淗ouse Calls鈥� outreach program, in which pairs of 天美传媒app faculty and administrators fanned out in first-year student residence halls to greet new undergraduates. She also served on the Disability Services Committee, which deals with accommodation and accessibility issues on campus.
Dr. Hughes displayed a similar concern and care for her colleagues as well: During the COVID pandemic, she organized virtual coffee chats for the directors in Student Affairs to come together and support each other.
鈥淲hen she saw a need, she was always ready to step up,鈥� recalled Vice President for Student Affairs Corey Kelly, who as an entry-level Student Affairs staff member was under Dr. Hughes鈥� supervision. 鈥淪he had such a deep understanding of the work of Student Affairs and what it means to do that work in the context of the Boston College mission. She had a gift of sharing her experience, energy and relentless positivity with others, always seeking to lift others up and see them succeed. Carole perpetually met people where they were, never shying away from having hard conversations or addressing challenging situations.鈥�
"Carole's death is a tremendous loss to the 天美传媒app community, and she, her family, and friends are very much in our prayers during these difficult days,鈥� said Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J. 鈥淐arole cared deeply about the well-being of our graduate students, and her creative and faithful attention to their needs and their formation will be deeply missed."
"Carole used to say jokingly that she had done every job on this campus during her 30 year tenure, and that just speaks to the many lives she touched," said Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr. "This is a tremendous loss for our entire community. It's hard for me to even speak of her in the past tense, but she was a trusted colleague and a good friend, and I will miss her immensely."
Even while she tended to her various day-in/week-out responsibilities, Dr. Hughes pondered a larger context, as a woman in the field of student affairs. When she stayed at home for a couple of months after her second child was born, she recalled in a 2002 interview with the听Boston College Chronicle, she began to think more broadly about family and career issues.
鈥淵ou start asking yourself all kinds of questions, especially 鈥楽hould I continue my career? Should I work full-time, part-time?鈥� These are things many working parents ask themselves. But I knew I needed a broader perspective, because I felt that women in the student affairs field are contemplating a number of issues, professional and otherwise, especially as they move into mid-career.
鈥淢ore women are entering administrative positions in student affairs, and at an earlier age, than in the past and many of these women have young families. I was also interested in the challenges professional women face as they reach mid-career, usually around the time they have families.鈥�
So, at the 2002 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) annual conference, Dr. Hughes organized a panel discussion, 鈥淕reat Women Don鈥檛 Always Think Alike: Women in Student Affairs,鈥� featuring presentations by eight women on what they considered turning points in their careers as student affairs professionals. NASPA is a leading organization for student affairs professionals, with 13,000 members at 1,400 campuses in 25 countries.
Investing time and energy in one鈥檚 job is a universal issue, she told Chronicle, 鈥渂ut as a student affairs professional, you are concerned with the formation of students, even as you are seeking to define yourself. So as you move through other stages of your life, how else can you measure success other than being present for a significant number of hours beyond the conventional work week? How do you be a good model for younger staff and students?
鈥淢aybe it means being healthy, in mind and body, or trying to find a balance between work and one鈥檚 family or personal life.鈥�
Inspired by the panel, Dr. Hughes went on to co-edit a book of essays, Roads Taken: Women in Student Affairs at Mid-Career, featuring reflections from more than 20 women on their personal and professional lives as administrators in the student affairs field. The essays focused on subjects such as pursuing a doctorate, dual-career couples, and motherhood and student affairs, each with an introduction by an expert in the specific topic area. Hughes, who also penned an essay on her experiences as a working mother, wrote an introduction to the section titled 鈥溾�業鈥檝e Arrived鈥�: It鈥檚 the Journey, Not the Destination.鈥�
In 2022, NASPA named Dr. Hughes a Pillar of the Profession, an honor given to student affairs professionals who have provided significant service to NASPA through regional and/or national leadership roles; created a lasting impact on the institutions or organizations at which they have worked, leaving a legacy of extraordinary service recognized by a cross-section of institutional/organizational stakeholders; and/or have demonstrated sustained, lifetime professional distinction in the field of student affairs and/or higher education.
鈥淐arole brought joy, energy, and passion to her work,鈥� said First Year Experience Director Christopher Darcy. 鈥淪he mentored, inspired, and motivated so many in the area of student formation, and always carried them in her heart. When she checked in with you, she wanted to make sure you were caring for yourself while caring for others.鈥�
A graduate of University of Massachusetts-Boston, Dr. Hughes earned a master鈥檚 degree in educational policy from Boston University. She also held a doctorate from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development鈥攈er dissertation was 鈥淐ollege Students, Loneliness and Use of the Internet鈥濃�攁nd a master鈥檚 degree from the 天美传媒app School of Social Work. She worked as a licensed clinical social worker in the Greater Boston area.听听
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