Four finalists named for dean of students
Four finalists have been named for the dean of students position, campus officials announced Thursday, March 9.
The finalists were recommended to Chancellor David Ward and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Paul Barrows by a 15-member search and screen committee after a nationwide search. Committee membership was divided equally between faculty, academic staff and students.
The finalists are:
- Lisa C. Buenaventura, interim associate dean of student support services at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. Buenaventura previously was director of student support services and director of women’s programs at Clark College. She has also worked as a K-12 school psychologist, counselor and program administrator.
- Alicia Fedelina Chávez, assistant professor in the department of educational leadership at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Her previous employment includes positions as a diversity development specialist at Iowa State University and director of the Hispanic Cultural Center at the University of Northern Colorado.
- Jane DeGidio, director of the office of student retention programs at the University of Oregon. DeGidio has held several student services positions at Oregon since 1969, including four years as dean of students before moving into her current position.
- Richard A. Johnson, assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Johnson also worked as director of the department of student life at Missouri, and before that was assistant to the vice president for student affairs and director of the office of multicultural affairs at the University of Vermont.
The dean of students plays a leadership role in fostering and maintaining a multicultural and diverse institution that addresses the concerns of students of all backgrounds.
The new dean will report to Barrows and will succeed Mary Rouse, who will become an assistant vice chancellor in charge of strengthening and expanding programs that connect classroom and service learning. Rouse will continue as dean of students until the chancellor names a new dean.
The finalists will be invited back to campus for several interviews with administrators, faculty, staff and students. A final decision is expected by the end of the spring semester.