On March 15, 1967, College President Howard L. Rubendall announced that Professor of English Harold R. Gillespie would replace retiring Dean Benjamin D. James.
Although Professor Gillespie did not submit a formal application, he did respond to a request to be considered for the position, and the student panel that interviewed him for the role awarded him a "unanimous endorsement."
Professor Gillespie attributed this recommendation with the following statement: "They wanted someone who was a generalist and had a wider background, rather than a professional personnel man... They wanted someone familiar with the situation at Dickinson and someone with faculty experience."
In his announcement on March 15, President Rubendall said of Professor Gillespie: "Mr. Gillespie, over his years on the faculty, has shown a deep, helpful and imaginative interest in students and student affairs. It is with confidence that we look forward to his leadership in this important area of college life."