When Dean K.C. Potter died on Aug. 26, 2024, an era ended at Vanderbilt. Though he retired as dean emeritus in 1998, the Vanderbilt campus seemed always to hold him in place—just as though he was still in his Branscomb office or coming down the steps of the West Side Row house that is now the K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI Life. For many alumni, Potter was there at a crucial moment in their lives when choices had to be made, and it helped to have a compassionate, fair-minded adult heading the committee that would decide their fate.
Potter’s work gave him the opportunity to know students and for students to know him, and he gained a reputation for treating students with genuine care and respect. Over the years, he mediated many difficult situations as the campus moved through turbulent and transformative decades. Potter, JD’64, was such an integral part of student life that he understood, probably better than anyone else on campus, what students were doing, saying and thinking.
After he died, many alumni left comments on our social media feeds about their memories of him. Words like “influential,” “thoughtful,” “fair” and “sense of humor” came up many times, as did “bow ties.” Some are included here. Responses have been edited for style and clarity.
So sad to lose this great man. His legacy and contributions to the many Vanderbilt alumni and staff who have had the pleasure and honor to have known, trusted and worked with him—we will carry that legacy on!
—Thomas Layman, BA’73
(VU Special Collections and Photo Archive)
A great man and incredible influence on me as an immature young man. K.C. stands above all the faculty I had the privilege to know from 1973 to 1977.
—Mitch Grissim, BA’77
Dean Potter was truly a North Star at Vanderbilt. He helped many of us through tough times, and his leadership will be missed.
—Steve Bearden, BS’84
K.C. and I were dorm advisers 1962–64 in Barnard Hall. K.C. was a great mentor both to freshmen and to me. He had a dry wit and a great pride in Berea College, where he worked his way through college. We were both from small Kentucky towns. He was a great help to me through Law School. I was one of the very few people he ever told what his initials stood for.
—Joe Brown, BA’62, JD’65
When I was at Vandy in the ’80s, he was the guy you never wanted to see in his professional capacity. He was always visible around campus, and he was great with students. Seeing him outside his office was way more enjoyable. I don’t know if the current students recognize just how much he shaped the culture into what it is today, that rainbow flag [in the photo at bottom] hanging over his left shoulder being one of the most significant. As long as Vanderbilt University exists, Dean Potter will too.
—Morris Lewis, ’84
K.C. Potter was one of the most influential people in my time at Vanderbilt. His empathy and level of concern for the students was commendable. I was blessed to be a resident adviser/head resident for two years under K.C. and Steve Caldwell—what great role models. Fond memories of digging potatoes at the farm and breaking out in song. A great, loving man.
—Catherine Howieson, BSN’75
What a great man. Dean Potter gave us a fair dose of justice, for sure, but always did it after gathering the facts and understanding the truth. And mainly, he wanted us to really learn a few life lessons. I respected him 100 percent and ended up relying on him for advice on a number of matters.
—Jim Holbrook, BS’81
