Advisory Board
Tracy Arámbula Turner, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Program Coordinator of Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA)
University of Vermont
Dr. Tracy Arámbula Turner (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration at the University of Vermont. Her
scholarship has been published in the Review of Educational Research, Harvard Educational Review, Teachers College Record, Professional School Counseling, College
Student Affairs Journal, Journal of School Leadership, The School Community Journal, School Psychology Review, Improving Schools, International Journal of Research & Method in Education, Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, and New Directions for Institutional Research. She teaches an Honors College D1 Seminar on (In)equality in P-16 American Education, and masters-level courses in Higher Education Organization and Administration, Social Justice and Inclusion in Higher Education, and Higher Education Law. Dr. Turner was named a 2019 Faculty Fellow with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. She is also engaged with the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the American Educational Research Association and serves on the editorial boards of the Review of Educational Research, the Journal of Higher Education and the Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition. Dr. Turner is the recipient of the NASPA Region I Outstanding Contribution to Literature and/or Research Award, the UVM CESS John Dewey Educator’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding Faculty Award
Charles Carletta, J.D. Senior Associate Counsel
Albany Medical Health System
Charles F. Carletta, Sr. has been admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Military Appeals and all local federal and New York State courts.
Upon graduation from law school in 1969, he served as a Deputy Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force. In addition to criminal prosecution and defense litigation, he became a primary civil rights officer for the Air Force and participated in the formulation of the United States Armed Forces’ first inter-active training program on civil rights.
After military service, Mr. Carletta joined a law firm in the Capital Region of New York where he practiced law for twenty-seven years, both as a litigator and a practitioner specializing in the laws regarding banking, commercial real estate, hospitals, news media, and higher education.
During this time, he served as outside general counsel to several private and public, two and four-year institutions of higher education. He also published a chapter in a book on legal issues in higher education as well as over fifty papers or articles regarding education law and practice. He currently serves on two national professional boards centered on the interrelationship of law and higher education including as a founding director for the University of Vermont’s annual conference on Legal Issues in Higher Education. He enjoys presenting regularly as an adjunct professor or guest lecturer at various colleges.
In 2000, Mr. Carletta became the first Secretary of the Institute and General Counsel for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a position he maintained for sixteen years. During this time, he served for several years as one of twelve nationally chosen attorneys to advise the General Counsel of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Upon retirement from RPI, Mr. Carletta assumed the role of Senior Associate Counsel at the Albany Medical Center. During leaves of absence from that position, he has served as the Vice-President and Chief of Staff at Siena College and then served as the Chief Operating Officer at The College of Saint Rose. He is back as Senior Associate Counsel at the Albany Medical Health System.
During his career, Mr. Carletta has served as a trustee on two hospital boards and the board of a medical college. He has also served as a director on the boards of two captive insurance companies as well as several not-for-profit or charitable organizations.
Mr. Carletta is the proud father of four children and grandfather of four grandchildren.
Eva Chatterjee-Sutton, M.A. Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students
Washington & Jefferson College
Eva Chatterjee-Sutton joined W&J as the Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students in July of 2013. Dean Eva earned her BS in Sociology and Political Science at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS) and her MA in College Student Development with a minor in Organizational Change & Development at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA). Upon completion of her graduate work, Dean Eva assumed a position at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC) where she held several positions within the Office of Residence Life. In the summer of 1997, Dean Eva joined Bennington College, first as the Associate Director of Student Life and later transitioned to the Dean of Students at Bennington, a role she held for 7 years.
In her tenure at Bennington College, Dean Eva’s commitment to creating a student experience with a strong foundation in student development theory, a deep commitment to community development, and a dedication to creating support structures to provide students the opportunity to realize their full potential was realized. Dean Eva grew the student affairs operation from having a limited focus to an operation that encompassed a broad range of supports and services for students. In addition to the work at Bennington, Dean Eva grew the connection of Bennington College to the neighboring communities through partnerships and programs with community agencies and her own commitment to education and community development.
In 2006, Dean Eva was elected to the School Board of North Bennington, VT and served in that capacity until 2011 when she transitioned to leading the Board of Directors of The Village School of North Bennington. The Village School of North Bennington is only the second school in the nation to transition from a public school or an independent school. The process of this change was led by Dean Eva with support from a committee of citizens form the North Bennington community. This work, 5 years in duration, encompassed a highly political and community based process which received state and national attention both during and at is successful conclusion.
Now at W&J, Dean Eva has continued her commitment to creating a holistic and robust student experience. To date this has been marked in part by creating a team in the Division of Student Life whose work resonates with the values of student and community development. She is working to create connections and collaborations across the campus to assist in this effort. Dean Eva serves as a member of President John Knapp’s cabinet and leads a division of over 80 dedicated staff members who are deeply committed to the mission of W&J. In addition, Dean Eva serves on several non-profit boards. She resides in Washington, PA with her husband, two daughters and several rescued animals.
Megan C. Farrell, J.D., MBA Advisor and Consultant on Title IX Compliance
Megan C. Farrell is an advisor and consultant to educational institution clients with a focus on Title IX compliance. Ms. Farrell’s approach focuses on providing practical, reasoned advice to universities, colleges, and schools who are implementing change and bringing her legal, business, and education expertise to unique challenges.
Ms. Farrell’s background includes working as Title IX Coordinator at Palo Alto Unified School District and Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has also served as in-house counsel, faculty member, and graduate program director. Aside from these in-house positions, Ms. Farrell also has provided risk and litigation management counseling to institutions, developed internal policies and procedures for education clients, and designed customized training programs for schools across the country.
Ms. Farrell holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from Loyola University, a Juris Doctor from Widener University, and a Masters of Business degree from University of Maryland. She also holds certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and Mentor Coaching through the Coach Training Alliance, an International Coach Federation (ICF) program.
Janet Elie Faulkner, J.D. Founding Attorney
Faulkner Legal LLC
Janet Elie Faulkner was Emerson College’s first general counsel and also was in-house counsel for Northeastern University for over ten years. Janet conducts independent investigations of Title IX, employment, faculty, discrimination, disability, and athletics matters. She recently co-authored a peer-reviewed article on accommodating disabilities in the Title IX process. Janet has held leadership roles in the Boston Bar Association’s College and University section, is a member of the NACUANOTES Editorial Board, and has developed training modules for the Student Conduct Institute. She was a co-author of SCI’s Joint Guidance on the 2020 Title IX regulations, including the article on the intersection between Title IX and Title VII. Janet recently served as interim Employment Counsel for Cengage Learning. She also teaches Education Law and Public Policy at Boston College.
Janet established Faulkner Legal in 2014. Faulkner Legal is a boutique firm with a focus on the areas of employment, education, disability & privacy law. Faulkner Legal provides legal advice to colleges and universities, non-profits, education vendors, & small businesses. Faulkner Legal is a member of the Partner Network of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education.
Patricia Fechter Gates, Ph.D., CAE Deputy Executive Director
ACPA – College Student Educators International
Tricia joined the ACPA International Office staff in April 2013 as the Senior Director, Professional Development, Research, and Scholarship and currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director. Tricia leads the professional development, marketing, and technology teams and oversees the strategy, creation, and execution of programs and products to drive the Association’s innovative efforts.
Prior to working at ACPA, Tricia served as the Director of Events & Programs at Synergos, an Association Management Company. She has previous work experience with the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, Rockhurst University, and the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Tricia earned a bachelor’s in secondary education from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina, and an MBA from Rockhurst University. She holds a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University. She also holds the Certified Association Executive credential from the American Society of Association Executives. Tricia lives in St. Louis, Missouri with her partner Kevin and their two young children.
Seth Gilbertson, J.D. Senior Counsel
Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys
Seth brings direct experience in student affairs, labor and employment matters to his clients, with an emphasis on higher education institutions (HEIs). For the past 16 years, he served as senior counsel to several HEIs in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, including Upstate Medical University and the University at Buffalo.
Most recently, Seth was labor and student affairs counsel for SUNY’s western campuses (University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Brockport and Alfred State College). In addition, he served as primary counsel for international programs, applied learning and records/e-discovery.
Seth oversaw many labor and employment cases, including cases before the New York State Division of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He has drafted multiple policy documents for SUNY, including housing licenses, discrimination complaint procedures and e-discovery procedures. Seth managed audits, including federal and state Clery, OFCCP and Title IX audits; represented SUNY during Inspector General and Office for Civil Rights investigations and was counsel to task forces on student wellness and students with disabilities. He negotiated system-wide contracts with Google and Microsoft.
Seth is a frequent presenter at national higher education conferences, including National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).
Cheri Jack, M.S. Associate Dean of Students
Collin College Preston Ridge Campus
Cheri Jack is the Associate Dean of Students and Title IX Investigator for Collin College, which is a multi-campus community college district serving more than 59,000 students. Her role is to advocate for student success, support the teaching and learning environment, address discipline issues, investigate Title IX complaints, and serve as a member of the Strategies of Behavioral Intervention (SOBI) team.
Cheri currently serves as a board member for the University of Vermont Legal Issues in Higher Education conference. She has worked in higher education for more than thirty years at both community colleges and four-year institutions. Her background includes professional experience in the areas of discipline, Title IX Investigation, advocacy, academic advising, student life, counseling, student unions, career services, housing, and leadership. In addition, she has taught as an adjunct faculty member for ten years, and conducts faculty and staff training and development seminars.
She has presented at regional and national conferences including: the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO), the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Texas Higher Education Law Conference, and the University of Vermont Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference. Cheri earned a M.S in Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she has a B.S. with a double major in psychology and communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Adam Jussel, J.D. Dean of Students
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Adam serves as the Dean of Students for University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Before UWM, Adam was the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct/Community Standards at Washington State University. He previously represented WSU as an assistant attorney general, and has a certification in higher education law and policy from NASPA Adam served as a faculty member for the Foundations Track at the 2018 Gehring Academy, and has been fortunate to speak at a number of conferences about how to better serve students, including the National Conference on Law and Higher Education, University of Vermont Legal Issues Conference, the Higher Education Alcohol Other Drug & Wellness Summit, and the National Conference on Campus Sexual Assault and Violence. Adam was also a member of NASPA’s Culture of Respect CORE Constructs Advisory Board, advising NASPA on creating best practices regarding sex and gender based violence. Adam received his juris doctorate from Seattle University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from California Lutheran University. He is a member of the Washington bar, and soon to be Wisconsin.
Nicholas F. Laino, M.S. Senior Vice President for Administration & Finance
Herkimer College
Nicholas F. Laino is currently serving as the Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance at Herkimer County Community College in Herkimer, NY. He served as Interim President for one year in 2014-2015 and as Officer in Charge for four months in 2014 and six months in 2008. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority in Syracuse, NY and Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at SUNY Polytechnic Institute at Utica/Rome, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Herkimer County Community College. Mr. Laino also served as a Former Treasurer for the Utica City School District and Former Councilman for the City of Utica – elected at age 23.
Mr. Laino received a Master of Science in Business Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business and Public Management from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome and an Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration from SUNY College of Technology at Delhi.
Mr. Laino’s Professional Affiliations include President Emeritus for the New York State Community College Business Officers Association where he formerly served as the President, Vice President and Chairman of the Education Committee, Evaluator for Middle States Commission on Higher Education, former Member of the SUNY Shared Services Steering Committee, and former Member of the SUNY Strategic Planning “Group of 200”
Tamla Lewis, J.D., M.Ed. Associate General Counsel
The Pennsylvania State University
Tamla J. Lewis is Associate General Counsel at The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, Tamla served for three years as Associate Dean for Administration, Compliance and Special Initiatives for the University of Arkansas School of Law. Prior to her Law School tenure, Tamla served for ten years as an Associate General Counsel with the Office of General Counsel for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she was lead attorney on matters involving Title IX, Student Affairs, and campus safety, including Clery compliance. She conducted extensive trainings on student conduct and student records, contract compliance, and sexual assault awareness and prevention.
Tamla received a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law and an M.Ed. in Workforce Development Education from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, with a B.A. in English. During law school, Tamla served for two years as a Law Clerk in the University of Arkansas General Counsel’s office. Immediately after law school, she practiced as an Associate with the Rogers, Arkansas office of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, where her practice focused on civil litigation, including employment and business litigation. Prior to law school, Tamla was employed as a paralegal by the Jefferson County, Arkansas, Public Defender’s Office and the Cross, Kearney & McKissic law firm in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Steven J. McDonald, J.D. Retired General Counsel
Steven J. McDonald is the recently retired General Counsel of Rhode Island School of Design and previously served as Associate Legal Counsel at The Ohio State University. Steve began his legal career at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, where he represented CompuServe in Cubby v. CompuServe, the first online libel case, and he also has taught courses in Internet law at Ohio State’s College of Law and at Capital University Law School. He is a Fellow and past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, one of the developers of its NACUANOTES legal information service, and a recipient of its Distinguished Service and Life Member Awards. He presents and writes frequently on issues of higher education law. In State, ex rel. Thomas v. The Ohio State University, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that he really is a lawyer. He received his A.B. from Duke University and his J.D. from the Yale Law School.
Jeffrey Nolan, J.D. Partner
Holland & Knight
Jeffrey J. Nolan is an education and labor and employment attorney with Holland & Knight who represents, advises, educates and helps clients throughout the United States manage conflicts, enhance the safety of individuals and environments, and successfully navigate the maze of legal obligations faced by educational institutions and employers. Mr. Nolan is based in Holland & Knight’s Boston office.
Mr. Nolan represents and advises colleges, universities and independent schools throughout the United States regarding situations that implicate Title IX, the Clery Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other laws that apply in the higher education context. He also conducts system-wide compliance assessments and helps clients develop Title IX/Clery Act and other policies, practices and training programs to minimize risk and enhance compliance with those laws. In 2022 and in 2018-19, Mr. Nolan served on the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Title IX Working Group that prepared ACE’s comments to the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed 2022 and 2020 Title IX regulations, and his work on fair, equitable trauma-informed investigations was cited 8 times in the Preamble to the final Title IX regulations issued by the Department in May 2020. Mr. Nolan also advises higher educational institutions on the governance, faculty relations and related challenges that they face in the current economic and regulatory environment.
In the employment law area, Mr. Nolan assists employers in dealing with the full range of employee relations issues, advises them on how to comply with applicable employment laws, and helps them to create effective employment policies and training programs.
Mr. Nolan has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Mr. Nolan has successfully argued many cases that created favorable precedent in the higher education and employment contexts.
In client-sponsored and public venues, Mr. Nolan has trained thousands of education, human resources and law enforcement professionals throughout the country on best and promising practices in Title IX/Clery Act compliance, witness-centered/trauma-informed fair investigations, how to conduct hearings under Title IX regulations, threat assessment and management, ADA issues and other education and employment law issues.
Mr. Nolan advises clients on threat assessment practices, which use a proven methodology to assess and manage potential risks of targeted violence in the higher education and workplace settings.
Mr. Nolan also provides independent investigations of sensitive campus and workplace issues, such as reports of alleged sexual misconduct, intimate partner violence or stalking, alleged sexual harassment, faculty misconduct and other workplace misconduct. Jeffrey Nolan is a Certified FETI® Practitioner (CFP-B).
Mr. Nolan is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Vermont and Virginia, and practices in other jurisdictions as appropriate under state practice regulations.
Kimberly Novak, CEO
NovakTalks
Kimberly Novak, Kim is the CEO of NovakTalks, a higher education consulting firm that specializes in facilitating the development of strategic prevention, intervention, and accountability initiatives. A foundational characteristic of her team’s our work is the involvement of students in the governance of their organizations. Additionally, she. serves on Pi Kappa Alpha’s Staff as the Health & Safety Officer. In this role she provides training and support specific to health and safety for chapter leadership, collegiate members, volunteers, and staff.
Kim is recognized as a thought-leader in Student Organization Conduct having worked in student conduct administration for over 25 years. She is frequently called up to educate campus professionals and international fraternity staffs on the design as well as implementation of organization conduct systems. In 2007 Kim lead the development of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Prevention, the first educational experience designed to apply the principles and framework for prevention to the issue of hazing. The Institute is now in its 15th year and continues to be the leading hazing prevention program in higher education.
Kim approaches her work with college students with the heart of an advocate and is committed to the advancement of communities of care on college campuses across the country.
Jennifer L. Papillo, LL.M., J.D. Associate General Counsel
University of Vermont
Jennifer L. Papillo joined the UVM Office of the General Counsel in 2010, and was promoted to Associate General Counsel in 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Elon University, a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, as well as a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, with a focus on tax exempt organizations.
Jennifer is a frequent speaker and author at the national and regional level on issues related to student conduct, managing distressed and disruptive students, admissions practices, campus disruption, the First Amendment, political activities, taxation, Title IX, the Clery Act, FERPA, and the ADA. Jennifer is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), a member of the UVM Legal Issues Board of Directors, and a contributor to the SUNY Title IX Joint Guidance Initiative. Jennifer also serves as President of the Junior League of Champlain Valley (JLCV) and JLCV Diaper Bank, a fully volunteer run organization with
statewide reach distributing diapers and wipes to low income Vermonters. Before coming to UVM, Jennifer served as a law clerk for the American Cancer Society, Inc.’s Office of Corporation Counsel in Washington, DC, and a research assistant to Peter F. Lake in the writing of Beyond Discipline: Managing the Modern Higher Education Environment (Hierophant Enterprises, Inc., 2009).
Joshua W. B. Richards, J.D., B.A. Partner
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
Josh is a partner at the Philadelphia office of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, where he is the Vice-Chair of the firm’s Higher Education Practice, which has handled hundreds of matters involving Title IX and related issues for colleges, universities, and K-12 schools. Josh approaches his Title IX work and other matters involving litigation, compliance and/or government investigations from a mission-driven perspective and strives to provide practical advice that protects institutions without compromising their ability to fulfill their primary purposes. Josh brings this approach to matters involving employment disputes, student conduct, faculty relations, board governance, financial
exigency, accreditation, minors on campus, and civil tort claims, including student death and abuse matters. In addition, he regularly conducts on-site training sessions for higher education clients regarding compliance with civil rights laws and the Clery Act. Josh is a graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is currently nearing the end of a three-year term (FY 2019-2022) on the NACUA Board of Directors and is on the Legal Issues In Higher Education Advisory Board.
Hannah Ross J.D. General Counsel, Chief of Staff, and Secretary to the Corporation
Middlebury College
Hannah Ross was appointed as the first General Counsel of Middlebury College on December 1, 2016. She serves as the General Counsel to the liberal arts college in Vermont, as well as the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in Monterey, California, the Bread Loaf School of English, and Middlebury’s Language Schools and Schools Abroad. She provides legal and strategic advice to the President, the Board of Trustees, and senior administrators. Ms. Ross has worked in higher education since 2003, when she joined Princeton’s Office of the General Counsel. Ms. Ross supervises litigation and provides advice and counsel on a number of state and federal regulatory and compliance matters. She has particular expertise in issues of student health and safety, including threat assessment, harm reduction strategies, managing students in crisis, and self-harming situations, as well as issues of open expression, campus speech and protest, governance and policy development, privacy, and copyright.
Ms. Ross is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, regularly writing and speaking on higher education legal issues. She was elected to the NACUA Board of Directors (2018-2021) and received NACUA’s Distinguished Service Award (2022). Hannah also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Vermont (UVM) Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference, one of the nation’s premiere yearly conferences focusing on the diverse legal issues impacting all aspects of higher education. In the past, Ms. Ross served on the Steering Committee of Higher Education Real Estate Lawyers (HEREL) and hosted the 8th HEREL conference in 2010. As Middlebury’s Chief of Staff, Hannah serves as an advisor and thought partner to the President and her senior leadership team, organizing, coordinating, and translating initiatives and plans into action. Prior to working in higher education, Ms. Ross was in private practice as a civil litigator and employment lawyer with Hill & Barlow, P.C. and Goulston & Storrs in Boston. After law school, she clerked for Justice Denise Johnson of the Vermont Supreme Court. Ms. Ross received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Yale University.
Dr. William Stackman, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
University of Missouri-Columbia
Dr. Bill Stackman is currently the Dean of Students at Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Science. He previously served for Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean at the University of Missouri, and for seven years as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Notre Dame University. Dr. Stackman has been working in student affairs for 40 years and has held leadership positions at a number of institutions, including Director of Student Activities at Texas A&M University, Dean of Student Affairs at Rhodes College, Associate and Acting Dean of Students at Oberlin College, Director of Student Activities/Mayer Campus Center at Tufts University, Associate Director of the Illini Union and Program Director at the University of Illinois, and Associate Director of Student Activities at Temple University.
Dr. Stackman earned his doctorate at Boston University in Leadership, Administration, and Policy Studies. He also holds a master’s degree from West Virginia University in Higher Education Administration, a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Parks and Recreation Administration, a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Positive Coaching, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in Parks and Recreation. He is currently completing a master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Social Work.
Denzil J. Suite, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life
University of Washington
Dr. Denzil Suite, Vice President for Student Life, joined the University of Washington in July 2013. In that capacity, he provides leadership and direction for strategic planning, assessment, and staff development for a comprehensive division of student programs and services. He leads a team of approximately 1,000 professionals in creating and maintaining a healthy campus environment through services, programs, and innovative learning experiences beyond the classroom, and through a highly collaborative relationship with other senior UW leaders.
Prior to joining UW, he served as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Southern California where he had oversight responsibilities for over 20 departments in the division. He also served and as an Associate Professor for Clinical Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. He taught master’s level courses on Student Development, the History of Higher Education, and on Intervention Strategies.
Suite earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at The Ohio State University, a master’s degree in Education from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in Policy and Organization from the University of Southern California. His research for his doctorate centered on factors affecting student success in college. He is especially interested in how students from differing backgrounds are affected by the college environment. He chose this topic because of his long-standing commitment to college students and their success.
Dr. Suite has worked professionally in student affairs for over 20 years and has held positions of responsibility at UC Berkeley, Cal State L.A., and UC Santa Cruz. He is the recipient of numerous awards from national, local, and student organizations.
He recently served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for NASPA—the world’s leading association for Student Affairs professionals.