On Wednesday, April 28, President Eric Turner sent out an email to the Lasell community announcing that Associate Dean of Student Affairs Latoya Johnson-Pride would be promoted to Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs effective June 1.
Johnson-Pride, a member of the Lasell community since 2022, has worked solely in the Student Affairs department during her employment here thus far. Her focus was specifically on enhancing the operations and communities of both the Office of Residential Life and the Office of Student Activities and Orientation.
President Turner, while announcing the decision, shared how impactful Johnson-Pride’s service as Associate Dean altered Lasell’s community.
“Her work has consistently placed students at the center of every decision, and she has always championed the importance of student voice—encouraging students to take an active role within the University,” President Turner wrote.
Johnson-Pride is entering her nineteenth academic year in the field of higher education. Through her experience, she has served at different institutions in different facets.
“The first half of my career, I spent at ‘top-tier and small private liberal arts institutions.’ That was a really good training ground because I had the opportunity to work with some exceptional students and colleagues, which gave me a good framework for how to engage with students from both an academic standpoint and a developmental standpoint,” Johnson-Pride stated.
What ended up drawing Johnson-Pride to Lasell was the number of possibilities and opportunities that were available to all community members.
“During the interview process here at Lasell, I noticed a really strong academic component that was not traditional; the connected learning piece and the idea of preparing students for the real world,” Johnson-Pride reflected. “Students here are so diverse, both academically and socially. We have five schools and students with many different interests. Our students sometimes have many interests that are completely polar-opposite, such as sports management or communication and fashion design.”
When it comes to leading the Student Affairs division of Lasell, Johnson-Pride echoed the same focus that President Turner highlighted her for in his announcement: the students.
“I want to hear the students’ voices, and I really do want to incorporate students more into the changes that we make in Student Affairs. I think my ultimate goal is to have students not just look at our department as a place where conduct and roommate mediations happen,” Johnson-Pride shared. “Instead, I want them to also see us as a resource, as someone who can help them navigate college and have a thriving experience.”
Looking forward to the work she plans to achieve in her new position, Johnson-Pride shared that highlighting and listening to the student voice is at the top of her priority list.
“I love getting to know the people who show up to my office and having great conversations with them.” Whether it be a simple hello or a proposal for ideas on campus, Johnson-Pride is open to all students. “We do value the student voice, and the student voice can change things,” Johnson-Pride concluded.
–Oct. 7, 2025–