Final two Vice President for Student Affairs candidates will Visit Campus Oct. 14, 18

The last two of three final candidates for the position of Vice President for Student Affairs will visit campus for interviews Oct. 14 and 18. After the interviews are complete, the search committee will recommend finalists to President Kelley. The forum for Kimberly A. Barrett, vice president for Student Affairs, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Ala., and the first of the final three, was Sept. 27.

The search is chaired by Alice Brekke, Vice President for Finance and Operations.

The remaining candidates are:

• Steven Kent Erwin, associate vice president for Campus Life and Auxiliary Services, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kas.
• Lori Reesor, instructor and associate vice provost for Student Success, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kas.

Each of the candidates will participate in an open forum to meet and greet the campus community and public as follows:

Thursday, Oct. 14 – Steven Erwin

4 to 5 p.m. Open Forum – Student Wellness Center Classrooms
5 to 5:30 p.m. Campus Reception – Student Wellness Center Atrium

Monday, Oct. 18 – Lori Reesor

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Open Forum – River Valley Room
4:30 to 5 p.m. Campus Reception – Fireside Lounge

Each forum will be live streamed at www.und.edu/dept/webcast.

Steven Erwin

Steven Erwin earned an associate degree in science from Olney Central College in Olney, Ill., in 1980; bachelor’s in communications and theatre arts in 1982 and master’s in guidance and counseling in 1984 from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill.; specialist in community college/HIED in 2006 from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kas.; and his doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., in 2009.

He has held his current position since 2004. He is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Education serving the leadership studies curriculum. Prior to that, he was interim and associate vice president for student affairs and director of university housing for Pittsburg State University. While at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he served as assistant to the assistant chancellor for student affairs, and as the assistant director of student housing. He was director of residence life at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and residence hall director at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Erwin has 26 years experience in higher education. As associate vice president, he is responsible for overall leadership, supervision, organizational management, strategic planning, budgeting and program evaluation for campus life and auxiliary services. He participated in the Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management Certification for executives and those in higher education. He has served on numerous campus committees including the University Diversity Council, Strategic Enrollment Management Task Force, Ad Hoc Committee on Recruitment and Retention of Faculty and Unclassified Staff, the Council of Student Affairs, and is an advisor for Pittsburg State University’s Student Government Association. He is a member of the Upper Midwest Region Association of College and University Housing Officers.

Lori Reesor

Lori Reesor earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Whitewater, Wis., in 1984; her master’s from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in 1987, where she specialized in higher education; and her doctorate in educational policy and leadership from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kas.

She has been in her present position since 2006. Prior to that, she was assistant and associate dean in the School of Education, and assistant professor and adjunct instructor in higher education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She served as dean of students at Wichita State University. At the University of Kansas, she was the associate director of admissions, assistant to the dean of educational services, assistant director of new student orientation, and residence hall director.

Reesor has professional experience in the areas of student life, enrollment management and academics. As associate vice provost for student success she is responsible for supervising and coordinating student success programs and services for approximately 25,000 students. She is a member of the Planning and Resources Committee for the University of Kansas (KU) and chaired or co-chaired other KU committees including H1N1 Flu Clinic, Professional Development, Academic Integrity and University Scholarship Council. She is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and has held membership in the Association for the Study of Higher Education, and the National Academic Advising Association.

— Sandy Rios, President’s Office, for Alice Brekke, Chair, Vice President for Student Affairs Search Committee.