Dr. Richard Frost, who is vice president for student development and dean of students at Hope, will present “Lessons That I Have Learned” on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in Winants Auditorium of Graves Hall through the Last Lecture Series presented by the college’s chapter of the national Mortar Board honorary society in collaboration with Student Congress.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers are requiring that masks be worn by those attending in person. The presentation will also be livestreamed at hope.edu/live and via the Hope College YouTube channel.
The “Last Lecture Series” title is usually rhetorical. The lectures are not generally literally presented as the last that the speakers will deliver at Hope, but are meant to highlight the advice that faculty and staff would most want to share if the event was indeed their final opportunity to address the college’s students. The speakers are asked to reflect on their careers and lives, and to think deeply about what matters to them and the wisdom they would like to impart.
In this case, however, Frost is retiring following the conclusion of the semester after 33 years at the college.
Frost has been a member of the Hope staff since 1989. In his role, he mentors and guides the student body and oversees student development services on campus. The Student Development offices at the college include the Center for Diversity and Inclusion; Counseling and Psychological Services; Dining Services; Health Center; Residential Life and Housing; Student Life; and Volunteer Services.
Prior to coming to Hope, Frost was associate director of housing and residential services at the University of California-Santa Barbara. He holds his bachelor’s degree from Luther College, and his master’s and Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service, and provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to college and universities, and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. Since its founding in 1918, the organization has grown from the four founding chapters to 233 collegiate chapters with more than 250,000 initiated members across the nation.
Hope College’s Dianne Portfleet Alcor chapter has existed since the 1936-37 academic year, although it did not become part of the national Mortar Board organization until 1961. It was renamed for former long-time faculty adviser Dr. Dianne Portfleet in May 2016. The chapter has received multiple awards each year for the past several years, including the prestigious "Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award" in 2010.
Audience members who need assistance to fully enjoy any event at Hope are encouraged to contact the college’s Events and Conferences Office by emailing events@hope.edu or calling 616-395-7222 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Updates related to events are posted when available in the individual listings at hope.edu/calendar
Graves Hall is located at 263 College Ave., between 10th and 12th streets.