Introducing Anita Sharif-Hyder, Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Life

In 17 years at Yale, I’ve had a series of opportunities that align with my core values of leading with joy, humility, and partnership. As I reflect on my first month as dean of students, I feel fortunate to begin my next act of service to this great institution within the beautiful surroundings of Evans Hall, filling a role that embodies community and collegiality and benefits from SOM’s robust resources, committed staff and faculty, and stellar academics.

By way of background, I am a “diplobrat”—a diplomat’s child—of Bangladeshi origin. Growing up abroad, I spent my formative years in Venezuela, Kuwait, Egypt, and India, learning to thrive in international environments. My parents instilled in me a passion for hospitality within a mashup of cultures, languages, faiths, and traditions. I recognized the profound impact in having authentic and deep conversations that go beyond the superficial, leaving small imprints in both the scripted and unexpected connections with a variety of people.

I came to the United States as an international student to pursue my undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology, and unexpectedly found myself drawn to positions in higher education, which allowed me to serve students directly and support community-building with intention and purpose. I joined Yale’s staff in 2006; after stints at the Yale World Fellows Program and University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct, I am thrilled to join an amazing team within Academic Affairs and Student Life at SOM.

Throughout my career, my work has required efficiency, sound judgment, diplomacy and sensitivity. I hold true a commitment to supporting students, faculty, and staff of all abilities, backgrounds, and talents—and I intend to bring this dedication to pursue, create, and discover new areas of growth as I embark on my first few months at SOM. My institutional knowledge of the university will inform how I go about my day-to-day responsibilities, as I have developed strong relationships across many units and departments and will draw upon shared best practices to benefit SOM. In addition, I will draw from my parallel role as associate head of Trumbull College, where I am immersed within the undergraduate student body, to create opportunities for SOMers to access the bountiful resources across campus.

My commitment is simple: to bring compassion, dignity, grace, and respect to each conversation, gathering, classroom, and celebration. I recognize that my success depends the success of those around me, whether colleagues or students. Recognizing that we are living in uncertain times on a national and international scale, I hope to curate and cultivate, nourish and nurture, celebrate and commemorate. And so, let us begin!