Making His Mark at CMC

Story by Gilien Silsby

Photos by Anibal Ortiz

Walk by Jimmy Doan’s office, and you’ll be greeted with a choice.

Sunrise or sunset? Scary movies or romantic comedies? Cats or dogs? Glinda or Elphaba?

The surveys strung on his outside window spur students to stop, debate, and laugh. As Claremont McKenna’s new Dean of Students, Doan believes these spirited one-on-one conversations are crucial to fostering belonging and connections in the College’s vibrant community. He’s a regular at Ath teas, attends almost every CMC evening event, and talks with students while walking his dog across campus after work with his husband, Luke Sutherland, who is an Assistant Director of Human Resources at CMC.

“I love connecting with CMCers,” he said. Each meeting provides him valuable perspective as he considers ways to support students.

When Doan moved to CMC, he left his lifelong Boston area community and his big family for the first time in his life. He worked with students for years at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, and Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. But in 2024, he was drawn across the country to Claremont McKenna for its small, tight-knit community.

“I could tell from the first time I stepped on campus that this is a special place,” Doan said. “It’s hard to walk around here without being recognized. And there’s something really nice and refreshing about that—but it’s also a big responsibility.”

Doan never expected he would take this career path. When he enrolled at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, he initially studied chemistry and thought he would become a pharmacist.

“After my sophomore year, I realized I absolutely hated chemistry, specifically organic chemistry. And long story short, I ended up being an Economics Accounting major.”

Little did he know that his decision to switch majors would create lasting connections with the college counselors and student affairs professionals who guided him.

“The relationships were invaluable,” Doan said. “Many continue to be close mentors who help me clarify my personal and professional sense of purpose.”

Their help inspired Doan to support students the same way. He went on to earn a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration at the University of Vermont.

His first job in student affairs took him to Bentley University, a small business school with a liberal arts focus.

But the big career payoff came when MIT hired him. He built MIT’s first programs that prioritized well-being as an essential component to success, including peer mentorship in residence halls, developing resources for faculty to recognize and respond to students in distress, and creating the Office of Student Wellbeing. Most recently, he was the institute’s Associate Dean and Senior Director of Wellbeing, Belonging, and Special Projects. All of these programs helped students to see that their well-being is essential to their success in college and in life.

After more than a decade at MIT, Doan couldn’t resist the opportunity to support student success at CMC. “I was drawn to CMC because it supports a culture where well-being and leadership development go hand-in-hand. I knew the College was a perfect fit for me.”

Doan’s top priority is to learn about the community so he can understand students’ needs. “When I walk around campus, I want to make sure everybody feels that they have a space here,” he said. “Some of that is through programs we develop for students. Some of that is through the spaces that we create for students. Some of that is through the kind of language that we use to talk with students.”

Giselle Lai ’27 has experienced that firsthand from Doan. “Jimmy is always available to talk, whether it’s about a serious issue or just to catch up. Jimmy values student opinions and wants our voices to be heard. It is clear that he wants the best for us and wants us to succeed as students and people.”

Jimmy Doan with his family speaking with students on campus.

Recently, a student asked Doan if he would change anything now on campus. “CMC is an entrepreneurial place,” he said. “If there’s an opportunity that comes along for us as a community to think creatively together about something, I’d be very excited to jump in and be a part of that. But my job isn’t to shake things up for no reason.”

Robert Gama ’28 said Doan has been welcoming and helpful in making the transition to college life smooth. “Jimmy is always out on campus, checking in on students, remembering details about us, and making everyone feel seen and valued. His kindness and warmth create such a positive atmosphere at CMC; he genuinely listens, cares, and supports us whenever we need him.”

Dianna “DT” Graves ’98—who formerly was Dean of Students before being promoted to Vice President of Student Affairs—agrees that Doan offers the perfect balance of challenge and support to CMC students and marvels at how quickly he embraced CMC’s campus culture. “Rarely is someone able to step into an environment as deeply established as CMC and instantly earn the trust of the community. From the outset, Jimmy has contributed his shrewd insight and sincere passion for the student experience with sophistication and nuance. We are so fortunate to have him.”