Sheppard named assistant dean of students

Janice Sheppard, who has served as interim assistant dean of students since 1997, has been named permanently to the post, Dean of Students Mary Rouse announced Thursday, May 13.

As an assistant dean, Sheppard will manage the university’s response to student academic and nonacademic misconduct issues , and supervise the new lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues coordinator who will be hired this summer. She will share some general administrative responsibilities as well, Rouse said.

“Jan has a wonderful and rich background, both in education and experience, and we feel lucky to have her in this office,” Rouse said.

Sheppard has a doctorate in cultural anthropology from UW–Madison in 1983. She also received a 1981 Graduate Excellence in Teaching Award for her achievements as teaching assistant.

“What every dean of students needs is a cultural anthropologist sitting at her elbow,” said Rouse, whose office is at the center of a broad range of student life issues.

She was named to the interim post as an assistant dean during the 1997-98 academic year. Sheppard has worked in the Dean of Students Office for more than 11 years. Among other responsibilities, she was coordinator of the Student Organization Office, a part of the Dean of Students office that serves the hundreds of student organizations registered on campus.

The Office of the Dean of Students is a resource for 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students across all programs, schools, and colleges. Eight units offer a broad range of assistance to students and promote a campus climate that fosters civility and encourages full and free participation of all students.