Lisa Noble Named Associate Dean of Career Development and Field Work Term
Bennington College College President Laura Walker announced that Lisa Noble has been appointed as Associate Dean of Career Development and Field Work Term.
This appointment comes following a national search and extensive feedback from the Bennington community. She will join the college on July 1, 2022.
Field Work Term (FWT) at Bennington College is a cornerstone part of the Bennington undergraduate experience, based on the understanding that deep learning requires a sustained mix of classroom time and real-world experiences that build on each other over four years. For close to a century, one hundred percent of Bennington students have completed an internship or field experience each year. The FWT program allows students to bring their studies to the workplace, implementing their knowledge, confronting challenges firsthand, and refining their questions.
“Lisa is an entrepreneurial leader with a track record of building impactful partnerships both within institutions and with external partners. She will work with our students, faculty and staff to develop internship and career opportunities for our students. She will lead the office, but also serve as a resource for other leaders across the College,” said Bennington College President Laura Walker. “She has extensive experience to bring to this new role, and we wish her a warm welcome to the Bennington community.”
“The integration of work experience and academics is a key pillar of a Bennington education, and has been since our founding,” said Provost Maurice Hall. “Lisa’s experience and approach will support our students and the College in the next era.”
“The search committee was struck by her strong pedagogical approach, experience in marketing and business, and her very successful background in career and skill-based educational programs,” said Dean of the College Brian Michael Murphy. “They noted her enthusiasm and eagerness, deep understanding of Bennington College’s unique style of education, and readily apparent gifts for collaboration, listening, and leading by example. In this role, Lisa will serve as a key advisor to the Bennington community on administering the experiential Field Work Term and overseeing the college’s innovative model for progressive career education, among other duties.
Reflecting on her new role, Noble said, "I cannot wait to be part of the vibrant Bennington College community and to draw inspiration from the wildly creative and capable students, alumni, staff, leadership and faculty. I know that current and future employer partners will be inspired, too!"
The search committee was led by Dean of the College Brian Michael Murphy and composed of a cross-section of staff, faculty, and students.
Lisa comes to Bennington from Colby College, where she served as Director of Employer Partnerships and Emerging Pathways. Lisa holds an M.S. in Innovation from the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University, and a BA in Psychology from the University of Virginia. She was recently given the Ernest C. Marriner Distinguished Service Award by the Colby Alumni Council, making her the first non-alum to receive this in its 41 year history.