John W. Rawlins III joins administration

John W. Rawlins III joined the Johns Hopkins community on Oct. 1 as the special assistant to Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Student Life Terry Martinez.

Previously, Rawlins was the assistant director for Multicultural Affairs in the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs at Ithaca College.

“Since joining Ithaca College in 2006, John has made a tremendous contribution to the development, retention, and success of students... John’s collaborative efforts have extended to various on campus departments, to departments at Cornell University, and to many organizations in the Ithaca community,” the official site of Ithaca College said.

According to Ithaca College’s main website, Rawlins has served as Coordinator of the Ithaca Achievement Program and as chairperson of the MLK Campus-Wide Celebration. He also coordinated Cultural Theme Month Programs and contributed to other programs, including the MLK Scholar Program, Cross-Cultural Leadership Retreat and Jumpstart.

Rawlins has won many honors and awards, such as the IC Choice Staff Recognition Award for leadership in campus-wide MLK Day Programming. According to his LinkedIn, he won many awards at Cornell as well, including the Cornell Tradition Senior Recognition Award and the Dean of Students Distinguished Leadership Award. He was named one of the top 25 Most Influential Undergraduate Cornellians in 2005-2006.

Rawlins left Ithaca College on Sept. 19 after serving there for eight years.

At Hopkins, he will work on projects that are different from the multicultural work that he had done at Ithaca College. Largely, he will help Martinez with work relating to Greek life.

“He will manage various projects including work with the Alcohol Strategy Working Group, Title IX issues and Sexual Assault prevention and resources, and several other projects,” Martinez said on the Johns Hopkins University Greek Life Facebook page.

Martinez is working on three major projects, one of which is work related to Greek life. She is hosting the Greek Life Summit to converse about the missions of campus organizations and chapters on Oct. 23 with members of the FSL Community.

From Nov. 12 to 14, Martinez will be hosting an external consulting group from the North American Inter-fraternity Conference’s Fraternity and Sorority Coalition Project to review the Greek life program at Hopkins. Four Student Affairs professionals will interview various members of the community and develop a report on the strength of Greek life culture on campus. The Coalition Project also asked Martinez and the Student Life Office to call together a Blue Ribbon Committee of Fraternity and Sorority members and other people related to Greek organizations.

“John is helping me with logistics for both of these. Setting up meetings, sending out letters, etc,” Martinez wrote in an email to The News-Letter.

He will primarily work as a project manager and a logistical coordinator. Martinez says that Rawlins is a temporary assistant, which means that he currently has a one-year appointment.

In an email to The News-Letter, Rawlins said that he has enjoyed working at Hopkins so far.

“I have learned a lot about the institution and continue to learn each day. I have met very dedicated staff and faculty, as well as many incredible students, and I look forward to working with them and continuing to build connections,” Rawlins wrote to The News-Letter.

According to Martinez, she and Rawlins met several years ago when they were both at Ithaca College. They had worked together on many projects before she hired him as Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs.

“He is a smart, organized and talented professional and I respect and appreciate him very much,” Martinez wrote in an email to The News-Letter.

Aside from interest in Student Affairs, Rawlins is also passionate about music and ministry.

“I am also a Gospel Music artist, songwriter, vocal producer, and choir director,” Rawlins wrote.

Rawlins was raised in Silver Spring, Md. and had planned to move back home. Martinez said that she is glad that Rawlins returned to Maryland at the right time.