The University of Colorado at Boulder will host five finalists for the post of vice chancellor for student affairs beginning next week.
The finalists are: Deb Coffin, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and executive director of Housing & Dining Services, CU-Boulder; Todd Holcomb, associate vice president for student affairs at Iowa State University; Christopher A. Payne, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Melvin Cleveland Terrell, vice president for student affairs, Northeastern Illinois University; and Julie M. Wong, associate vice president and dean of students, University of Texas at El Paso.
The five finalists were identified through a national search to fill the position being vacated by Ron Stump, who is retiring from the post after more than 11 years of service. Stump will continue in his role as interim director of the University of Colorado Alumni Association after his successor in Student Affairs is named.
"The search committee was very favorably impressed by the accomplishments and qualifications of these applicants," said Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and chair of the search committee. "We look forward to meeting them in person and having them visit our lovely campus."
Deb Coffin
Ms. Coffin has served as AVC for Student Affairs and Executive Director of Housing & Dining Services since 2006. She is responsible for the leadership and administration of multiple student services including all housing and dining operations, Greek Life, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Program, capital construction and renovation, finance, human resources and other auxiliary operations.
Prior to serving as AVC, she served as executive director of Housing & Dining Services from 2001 to the present, and before that as assistant director of Housing, Dining Services & Hospitality from June to November 2001. She also served as director of Residence Life at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley (1998-2001) and as Director of Housing and Residence Life (1995-98) at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo. She holds bachelor's degrees in Community Health Education and Biology Education and a Master of Arts in Human Communication from UNC.
Todd R. Holcomb
Dr. Holcomb has served as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, since 2003. In that role, he oversees the budget and financial activities for the Division of Student Affairs -- a division that includes Admissions, Orientation, Financial Aid, Registrar, Memorial Union, Student Counseling Services, International Student Services, the Student Health Center, Dean of Students Office, Greek Affairs, Recreational Sports, Multicultural Student Affairs, Academic Support Services, ISU Dining and Department of Residence.
Prior to serving as AVP, Holcomb served as interim director of ISU Dining (2005-06) and interim director of the Department of Residence at the school (2004-05). He was interim assistant vice president for Student Affairs at Miami University (2002-03), director of Residence Life and the New Student Program at Miami (1997-2002) and associate director of the same program at Miami (1994-97). He also has held teaching and residence life posts at the University of Georgia and residence program committee posts at Texas Tech University. Holcomb holds a bachelor's degree in science from Truman State University, a Master of Education in higher education administration from Texas Tech University and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Georgia.
Christopher A. Payne
Dr. Payne has served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 2005, a division encompassing the Dean of Students, Housing and Residential Education, Campus Health Services including Counseling and Wellness Services, Carolina Union, Disability Services, University Career Services, New Student and Carolina Parent Programs, Campus Recreation, Campus Y, LGBTQ Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Technology and Systems Support.
At UNC-Chapel Hill, Payne also served as interim assistant vice chancellor for Campus Health Services (2005-06), interim associate vice chancellor for Student Services (2003-04) and director of Housing and Residential Education (2000-03). Prior to that, he served as director of Housing Operations at Denver University (1999-2000) and associate director for Housing Operations (1994-99), in residence life posts at the University of Nebraska-Kearney (1992-94) and in graduate assistant posts in cultural centers and admissions at the University of Northern Colorado (1991-92). Payne holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Colorado State University, a master's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a Ph.D in College Student Personnel from the University of Northern Colorado.
Melvin Cleveland Terrell
Dr. Terrell has served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Professor of Counselor Education at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago since 1988. In that capacity, he leads the administration of a comprehensive range of departments, including Campus Recreation (Intramurals and management of Physical Education Complex), Financial Aid, Health Services, Student Activities (Student Government, Greek Organizations and Student Media) Adult and Women's Student Programs, Counseling Office, Placement Office, Dean of Students Office, International and Veteran's Student Services and University Events.
Prior to his posts at Northeastern Illinois, he served as director of Minority Affairs and adjunct assistant professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, (1985-88) and as director of the Multicultural Education Center and adjunct professor of Education and Human Services (1981-85) at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Terrell was director of the Learning Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (1979-80) and director of the Project for Academic Success and assistant professor of education at Chicago State University (1978-79). He also held counseling-teaching posts at Eastern New Mexico University (1977-78) and was an instructor in counseling at Kennedy King College in Chicago (1973-75). Dr. Terrell holds a bachelor's degree in history from Chicago State University (1971), a master's degree in education from Loyola University in Chicago and a Ph.D in Higher Education Administration from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.
Julie M. Wong
Dr. Wong has served as associate vice president and dean of students at the University of Texas at El Paso since 2004. In that role, she is responsible for the leadership and administration of Miner Village (Student Housing), Recreational Sports and Swimming & Fitness Center, Student Development Center, Diversity Initiatives, Student Government Association, Child Care Center, Counseling Center, International Programs, Student Publications, Women's Resource Center, and Student Conduct.
Prior to her service at UTEP, Wong served as dean of Student Affairs, Sixth College at the University of California, San Diego (2001-04) and as associate dean of students for Campus Life and Director of Student Activities at Chapman University (1999-2001) in Orange, Calif. She also served as assistant director of Residence Life at California State University, Los Angeles (1992-99), as residential life coordinator at the University of California, Berkeley (1990-92) and as a graduate resident adviser at Michigan State University (1988-90). She also was a teaching assistant at the University of Southern California (1997-99). Wong holds a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from San Jose State University, a master of arts in College and University Administration from Michigan State University and a Ph.D in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California.
Candidates will visit the campus on the following schedule:
Christopher Payne, April 29-May 1
Detailed schedules will be distributed to campus groups including staff, faculty, students and all interested parties as soon as the schedules are confirmed.