New Trinity College Dean Promotions
Trinity College Assistant Academic Deans Caroline L. Lattimore G’78 and Michele Rasmussen G’99 have been promoted to associate academic deans, Trinity College Dean Robert J. Thompson announced.
Thompson also announced the promotions to assistant academic deans of four assistant deans for advising: Milton Blackmon, Donna Kostyu, Diane McKay, and Lynn White.
Lattimore, an adjunct associate professor in the Program in Education, advises undergraduate majors in public policy studies and sociology. She is the Trinity College liaison with the ROTC Officer Education Committee and works on special assignments for the Department of Defense and the military. Lattimore mentors and assists with placement of student tutors in the Durham Public Schools and is on the advisory council for the Reginaldo Howard Scholars.
Lattimore serves on the Advisory Committee for WTVD News Channel 11 and is a national officer with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She has BS (English) and MA (guidance and counseling) degrees from Hampton University and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Duke. Her previous posts at Duke included assistant provost and dean of minority affairs.
“Dean Lattimore has had a long and distinguished career at Duke,” Dean Thompson said. “She has been a strong advocate for Trinity College in the Durham community, and has made a significant impact on the quality of education in the Durham’s secondary and high schools.”
Rasmussen, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, advises premajor students and majors in biological anthropology and anatomy. She is director of the Academic Advising Center and a faculty-in-residence in Gilbert-Addoms residence hall.
Born in Australia and raised in Australia and New Zealand, Rasmussen has a BA in history and art history from the University of California at Los Angeles and a Ph.D. in biological anthropology and anatomy from Duke. She was previously an associate dean and dean for the sophomore class at Wesleyan University, assistant to the Trinity College dean, and a Career Center fellow in Duke’s Division of Student Affairs.
“Dean Rasmussen’s experience as a student and an administrator gives her an unusual perspective on advising issues,” Dean Thompson said. “She has done a fantastic job helping us formulate a new paradigm for academic advising and her leadership has been essential in creating a network of coordination and collaboration with Student Affairs.”
Thompson said the four promotions to assistant academic dean "reflect the high regard for these individuals as advisers of undeclared students and the expansion of their responsibilities to include serving as academic deans for students who have declared a major.”
Milton Blackmon advises undeclared students and majors in African and African American studies and Religion. He coordinates the readmission process for students returning from leaves of absence and is also a prehealth advisor.
Donna Kostyu G’79, an adjunct associate professor of biology, advises undeclared students and majors in earth and ocean science, and in environmental sciences and environmental sciences and policy.
Diane McKay T’87 G’00 ’01 advises undeclared students and majors in English, literature, and women’s studies.
Lynn White advises undeclared students and mathematics majors. An MD, she is also a prehealth advisor.
