December 2, 2025

Dear Members of the Suffolk Community,

I am deeply saddened to share that Suffolk University has lost a beloved member of our community with the passing of Dean of Students Emerita Nancy Stoll, whose dedication to building a thriving and supportive residential campus environment over the course of three decades was matched only by her broader devotion to this institution and its students. 

Nancy was a driving force behind Suffolk’s transformation from a commuter school into a cohesive residential university. She began her Suffolk career in 1987 as the University’s second-ever dean of students, before Suffolk even had residence halls. Starting with a staff comprised of one work-study student and a vision for an enhanced campus life and a more connected community, Nancy built Suffolk’s residence life structure from scratch. 

She understood that adding residence halls required a culture shift, with the need for round-the-clock services and a 24/7 mindset, along with security, dining, resident assistants, new policies and procedures. As the University’s on-campus student population grew and became more diverse, she expanded student support services. Initiatives launched under her leadership of Student Affairs included the Performing Arts Office, the Journey Leadership program, the Office of Disability Services, and the Center for Community Engagement, among others. 

In 2011, Nancy was honored with the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Service as a Dean by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) for her innovative approach to meeting students’ needs, her effectiveness in mentoring staff members, and her leadership in community and University affairs. 

When she arrived at Suffolk in 1987, Nancy pledged to stay five years. What kept her here for 29 was her love for Suffolk students and seeing their relentless desire to learn and achieve, often while working full- and part-time jobs and managing other responsibilities.

“Some of the greatest joys I had were the direct contacts with students and watching them grow and blossom and really take advantage of what they could get out of Suffolk,” she said in a 2018 recorded oral history. “That kind of environment really kept me here. It made me feel like I could make a difference.” 

And what an enormous difference she made. The programs she initiated during her time at Suffolk will benefit students for generations to come. 

When she retired in 2016, Nancy missed the connection she had with the University and its people. She said it felt like she had “fallen off a cliff.” She recognized that retirees were valuable resources to the University, but that there was no structured way in which they could stay connected to Suffolk and contribute their talents. Never one to hesitate when she saw something that needed fixing, Nancy started a new chapter in Suffolk’s history by creating the Suffolk University Retired Friends (SURF) group of former employees. Today SURF’s membership numbers more than 270.

I cannot think of any colleague who cared more about this institution than Nancy Stoll, nor one who advocated more strongly on its behalf. If Nancy didn’t like the answer she got, she always found a way to come back and ask the question differently—always with the best interests of this institution and our students and alumni at heart. She was a force! And one who simply loved Suffolk. 

I know so many in our community will miss her deeply kind and caring manner. As a University, we mourn her passing. The family has indicated they will hold a private family service. My thoughts are with Nancy’s husband, Jim, her entire family, including children Lindsay and Greg, and all who knew and loved her. 

Sincerely,

Marisa Kelly

President