As of July 1, Hayley Bentley will be the Registrar of the College of Arts and Sciences. Bentley replaces Judy Finch, who is retiring on June 30, after more than 15 years of devoted service to the College.
“Hayley is the consummate colleague and ideally positioned to take on this role,” Dean of the College of Arts and Science Bruce Suttmeier said. “I am thrilled that she agreed to take on this responsibility and I’m grateful for her continued dedication to the institution,”
A Career Dedicated to Higher Education
Bentley first joined Lewis & Clark in August 2015 as the scheduling and academic records specialist, focusing primarily on academic scheduling for the College of Arts and Sciences. In June 2020, she stepped into the role of associate registrar, expanding her expertise into all facets of the department. Prior to her time at Lewis & Clark, Bentley served as a college counselor at Phoenix Charter Academy, a charter high school in Chelsea, Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, where her senior thesis focused on access to higher education.
“The focus of my professional career has centered around the importance of higher education and the impact it can have on improving students’ lives,” Bentley said. “As an alum of a small, private liberal arts college, I am constantly reminded of the importance of a liberal arts education and I use my liberal arts training every single day! I love that I get to be part of contributing to that important training for our current students.”
Stepping Into Leadership
In her new capacity, Bentley looks forward to executing academic policy while expanding her presence across campus.
“I am excited about the opportunity to continue to grow professionally in this leadership position,” Bentley said. “I really appreciate the role of the Registrar’s office in taking policy that is developed and approved by the faculty and implementing that policy into the day-to-day academic experience for students as well as faculty and staff. Moving into the Registrar position allows me to continue to build on my previous professional experiences while having a real impact on the quality of education that Lewis & Clark provides to students.”
She also added with a laugh: “As my almost Kindergartener told me at dinner, I am the principal now!”
A Foundation of Mentorship and Collaboration
Bentley attributes much of her readiness for this role to the institutional knowledge gained through navigating major campus milestones, including the 2020 general education reform, the recent Self-Service implementation, COVID-19 disruptions, Fowler renovations, and various staffing transitions. She also credits her predecessor for laying a strong foundation.
“I have been very fortunate that Judy Finch has been a wonderful mentor since I started at Lewis & Clark in 2015,” Bentley said. “Judy cares deeply about upholding the integrity of the Lewis & Clark education and has been a great role model and teacher. In my professional life, I have had phenomenal supervisors and mentors that have been excellent role models in demonstrating how to do the important work of upholding policies with care and compassion.”
Looking ahead, Bentley plans to rely heavily on teamwork to navigate future challenges. “One of the best parts about working at L&C are the people!” Bentley said. “I am so fortunate to work with great people in the Registrar’s office as well as collaborate with faculty and staff here at the CAS and across the institution. These experiences have provided me with a solid foundation to tackle all the new challenges that will come our way in the future! I am also planning on leaning on the wealth expertise around me, especially Chris and Kelly in my office and my fellow Registrars, Courtney Whetstine and Tiffany Henning.”
