Shelton named Butler master

Psychology professor Nicole Shelton will serve as the new master of Butler College, Dean of the College Valerie Smith and Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan announced on Friday.

She will replace current Butler Master and electrical engineering professor Sanjeev Kulkarni, who has served in the position for the past seven years, effective July 1. Shelton’s term as master will last four years.

Shelton joined the University faculty in 2000 and won the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2008. Three years later, she won the University’s Graduate Mentoring Award. She has served as an academic adviser for students in Mathey College since 2003.

“I know I speak for the whole Butler staff when I say how delighted we were to hear of the appointment of Professor Shelton,” Dean of Butler College David Stirk said. “I know that she has a wonderful reputation, not only as a tremendous scholar but also as an extremely dedicated and talented administrator.”

Psychology Department Chair Deborah Prentice said that the mastership of Butler was a “perfect” role for Shelton.

“She is someone who can imagine things for a community of students and can respond to their needs,” Prentice said. “Butler is lucky to have her.”

Shelton said that she was eager to take on a role that helps shape student life from outside the classroom. She said she was interested in the position because of the opportunities to integrate the curricular and co-curricular aspects of undergraduate campus life.

“As a professor, I spend several hours per week in the classroom with students,” Shelton said. “Although those hours are extremely important, I recognize that a lot of learning occurs outside of the classroom.”

Kulkarni, who joined the University faculty in 1991, said that serving as master provides faculty with an opportunity to interact with students, faculty and staff in a way different from working in the classroom.

“I think Professor Shelton is a wonderful choice to serve as master of Butler College,” Kulkarni said. “This is a great time to think creatively about how to make the most of the residential college system as it now stands and to think about next steps. Professor Shelton will bring so much to this role, and I know she will enjoy it.”

Though members of the Butler community said they are excited to welcome Professor Shelton to the role of master, colleagues said Kulkarni — known as “Dean Sanj” to students and “Sanj” to colleagues — will be missed.

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Stirk described the feelings as “bittersweet.”

“I have enjoyed every minute of the past seven years I have worked with Sanj as Dean,” he said. “Everyone who knows Sanj or has been to one of the countless receptions and dinners he has hosted at the Master’s House has experienced the passion and dedication he has for Butler College and Princeton.”

Butler College Council co-chair Mengyi Xu ’14 said that she and the other members of the council will miss the annual dinner that Kulkarni hosted for them at his house.

“Master Sanj always has a large smile and seems to be ready at any time to sit down with any Butlerite and listen to what we have to say,” Xu said.

While serving as Butler master, Kulkarni helped oversee the implementation of the four-year college system, the design and construction of the New Butler complex, the renovation of Wu-Wilcox Dining Hall and the introduction of Resident Graduate Students, Stirk said.

“I have had the privilege of serving as master of Butler College during a time of significant transition for the residential college system at Princeton and for Butler College in particular,” Kulkarni said.

Kulkarni said he is looking forward to focusing more on teaching and research. Kulkarni began serving as the director of the Keller Center for Innovation and Engineering Education in September 2011.

Until July, Shelton will continue in her capacities as professor and graduate adviser. This spring, she is teaching PSY 327: Close Relationships.

“She will spend time getting to know the lay of the land,” Prentice said of Shelton’s first semester at Butler. “She is a very good listener and will want to respect what has already been created at Butler.”

“My goal right now is to listen to the students at Butler and figure out their desires and needs,” Shelton said. “The students in the psychology department know that my door is always open. The same will be true about my door at Butler. I look forward to meeting each and every Butlerite, a term I just learned today,” she added.