Nicholas Lewis ’13 M. Div. has been appointed the new Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Yale Divinity School. Lewis, who had been serving as Assistant Dean of the College and Community Life Chaplain at Bard College, assumes his new responsibilities on August 3.
“We are very fortunate to have Nicholas Lewis joining us and serving in this important leadership role,” YDS Dean Greg Sterling said. “He is committed to students, works extremely hard, and has excellent judgment. He knows YDS and the ethos of our institution. He was a great asset to the community when he was a student and will be an even greater contributor in this role.”
Prior to his attendance at YDS and the Institute of Sacred Music as a “second-career” student, Lewis maintained an active career as a professional clarinetist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Virginia and served on the faculty of Howard University in Washington, D.C.
While studying at the divinity school he was an exemplary leader, serving as President of Student Council and Secretary of Yale Black Seminarians. More recently, Lewis has been serving on the YDS Board of Alumni.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a BFA and MM in clarinet performance, Lewis has won several awards for both his academic and musical accomplishments.
During his time as assistant dean at Bard, Lewis worked to enhance the co-curricular lives of students, developing and supporting initiatives to increase personal, civic, and moral responsibility in the Bard community. In collaboration with the Chaplaincy Office, he worked to cultivate greater inclusivity and stronger networks of support across the college campus through program development and pastoral care.
In his new role at YDS, Lewis will serve on the Dean’s senior leadership team and lead the Office of Student Affairs in its efforts to foster a vital environment conducive to students’ pursuit of faith formation and scholarly inquiry.
“I am overjoyed to be returning to Yale Divinity School as Associate Dean of Student Affairs, to serve the community that so profoundly shaped my own sense of vocation,” Lewis said. “I truly look forward to working with this extraordinary team of dedicated professionals committed to fostering the vibrant sense of radical welcome and belonging that is the hallmark of the Yale Divinity School experience.”
Lewis succeeds longtime Associate Dean of Students Dale Peterson, who took early retirement to care for his ailing mother and sister in Virginia. Sarah Lamar-Sterling and Audrey West served as interim associate deans during the last year while Dale Peterson was on leave.