YSE Welcomes New Associate Dean of Student Affairs

Sonya Forrester can still remember the day her father drove her to college at Stony Brook University in New York. Forrester, who was born in Jamaica and lived in Canada, wondered whether she would fit in and feel comfortable at the university as an international student. Then she saw a sign on the door of her dormitory. It had her name on it.

“That was something that was so special to me. I felt seen. I felt connected,” she recalled. “There were people during my college years who saw potential in me, and I want to do that for others. I want to be that cheerleader for students.”

She hopes to foster similar feelings for all students at the Yale School of the Environment as the new Associate Dean of Student Affairs.

“I want to create an open, flexible, no-judgement space for students where I can support them, where they have a voice and feel a sense of belonging, and where I can help them on their academic journeys,” she said.

Forrester worked as a residence hall director at Stony Brook after earning her undergraduate degree in sociology and a master’s degree in social work there and she said  that led her to pursue a career in student services. Since then, she has worked in large institutions and small, public and private ones as well, including as assistant dean of students at the Graduate Life Office at Stanford University; associate director of student services at the School of Professional Studies at New York University; counselor and advisor at York College and associate director at the Center for Student Engagement at Purchase College in New York.

Forrester said that throughout her career she has sought to acquire a breadth of experience, working with a wide mix of student populations, and from that experience she has observed many commonalities.

“Students are all entering educational institutions with a vision and goal for their lives and a desire to connect with community,” Forrester said.

Her interest in the position at YSE stemmed from a desire to help students entering the challenging field of environmental work.

“It’s very powerful, meaningful work that they are taking on and being able to support them is supporting all of us and our Earth," she said. 

Forrester is looking forward to returning to the New York area where she can connect to the Jamaican community and food that she had missed while in California.

“I spent most of my formative years on the East Coast in New York and I miss the culture,” she said.

When she begins her first day at YSE on October 8, 2024, she wants the community to know that her multifaceted perspective gleaned from her wide range of experiences along with her calm demeanor is her superpower.

Her message to students is this: “I am honored and proud that you have taken the step in pursuing a career that you are so passionate about. As the new associate dean, the team and I are hoping to support your journey in a meaningful way to make sure that you're not only successful academically, but that you feel like you've grown and thrived in your time at YSE. Come to my office and say hello.”