In this role I was chief advocate for student success and retention efforts in Academic Affairs, and I coordinated with various programs and offices in the implementation of student success and retention initiatives for online and residential programs. I directed Accessibility Services Programming, undergraduate advising and first-year programs, and our Academic Resource Center. With multiple points of collaboration across campus bridging Academic Affairs and Student Engagement, responsibilities included providing vision, direction and leadership in establishing shared standards and practices to improve student success, coordinating a comprehensive retention strategy, coordinating academic advising and advisor development for 25 first-year faculty advisors and their peer advisors for residential students and a team of 8 professional advisors for online students. I provided assistance and partnered with student experience and support areas such as Student Engagement, Financial Aid, Office of the Registrar, Center for Student Success, Academic Affairs, Inclusive Excellence, Student Wellness, and Athletics. I have worked with faculty and staff teams to build programming for first-generation students, academically at-risk students, transfer and commuter students, and students on leave. I built and oversaw individualized programming for academic recovery and students returning from academic suspension.

This inaugural deanship included recruitment, student support and community building, and implementation of new programming designed to maintain and extend the women’s college legacy into the co-educational future of our residential program. Alumni relations was an important part of this position, as well as donor relations. New programming included a distinctive first-year experience, a leadership portfolio, mentorship programming, service to women and girls, and an annual women’s leadership symposium. These programs were launched during the 2018-2019 academic year. In addition to programming in student engagement, I also worked closely with offices of admissions and marketing in recruitment and public relations.

As Interim Registrar, I was responsible for maintaining the smooth functioning of the Office of the University Registrar during two searches for a permanent university registrar. Leading an office of 4 professional staff members and 2 student employees, I helped to ensure timely maintenance of records, continued prioritization in operations and strategic initiatives, staff development, and implementation of efficiency measures. I also worked to bridge divisions associated with strategic enrollment management from the registrar seat – collaborating with admissions, student accounts and financial aid, student success and retention, academic affairs and student engagement. Through this process I also led the staff through team building and professional development and wellness opportunities to increase morale and commitment to the university during times of great change.

During this interim position, I closed out an academic year, assisted in re-organization of the Department of Student Life, and opened an academic year with the largest incoming class in the history of the institution. I directed a staff of 12 professionals and graduate assistants, along with numerous undergraduate student orientation leaders and student employees. Specific projects included residence hall visitation policies; missing student policies; emotional support animal guidelines; Jenzabar module improvements and maintenance; Student Handbook revisions; male integration to campus; women’s college maintenance and acclimation to new programs; continuation of first-year experience work; continuation of Student Support Team and behavioral intervention; and reorganization of Title IX and student conduct offices. I had heavy responsibility in housing our incoming class, in planning and oversight of Summer Orientation Days, and planning and implementation of New Student Days. During this interim post and our transition to a co-educational institution, our incoming residential class grew from roughly 125 new students to over 400 new students.