Vice President for Student Affairs Bob Gatti started his career at Otterbein in 1978 as a hall director. Ever since then, he’s been helping students to succeed and has been improving the campus in a number of ways.
The Former vice-president of student affairs preceding Gatti, Dean Van Sant, hired him and influenced his decision to commit to the school for as long as he has.
When Gatti was presented with the Associate Dean job, the position offered less money than other schools, but Van Sant was able to persuade him to stay. “So I took it and I went home and told my wife I was so excited about it, and she said, ‘now, let me get this straight. You took on more responsibilities for less money?’”
The improvement of campus housing is the greatest accomplishment Gatti can remember. It was a series of successes.
Gatti is known for being active on social media. He recalls what he calls a Tweet Treat, where he tweeted at students who wanted coffee on his tab. He said he was surprised about the diversity of students that showed up. Sometimes faculty think very hard trying to gather diverse students, but Gatti’s tactic brought together upper and lower classmen, students of color and the LGBT communities and more.
Gatti said he is excited about the construction of a counseling center and being able to better provide those services to students. The idea of Student government is also something Gatti is excited about.
"The greater access to health services as well as the social experience of allowing students to plan for themselves," Gatti said.
Gatti said the students make Otterbein special. “Our students have always had this commitment to service. They’ve always had this genuine ethos of care for each other,” Gatti said.
He also commented on the relationships that persists between the faculty and students. Gatti said that as the dean of students, he is grateful for the surrounding faculty members who are oriented toward generating student success.
“He was my Dean of students when I was a student and he is part of the inspiration of why I went into student affairs in higher education,” said Matt D’Oyly, currently the director of annual giving and constituent communication at Otterbein.
D’Oyly, a 2004 Otterbein graduate, was welcomed back to Otterbein as a hall director by Gatti. During this time, he worked directly with Gatti.
D’Oyly said he had helped Gatti set up his Twitter account, where he is known for his Treat Tweets, which were Dean Gatti’s idea to get involved with students. “He’s had a huge influence on not only my life but tons of people’s lives over his long time here at Otterbein,” D’Oyly said.
Becky Smith, the executive director of alumni relations at Otterbein, worked with Gatti while she was an Otterbein student and he worked as a hall director in 1978 and has worked with him ever since.
“He is truly dedicated to the development of the whole person when working with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parent or community member,” Smith said. “He is a rock of stability for so many, a grounding force of strength and a steadfast supporter to his students, staff and the University.”
