Restructuring and Appointments in Student Affairs and Campus Life

Roger Richardson

David Prunty

The Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life has undertaken an organizational restructuring to better serve the campus community and to increase collaborations between the student affairs and academic affairs divisions. The changes include the appointments of Roger Richardson as assistant vice president for student affairs and campus life and of David Prunty as director of Campus Center, dining, and conference and event services, along with new names for two operations: The Office of Campus Safety is now the Office of Public Safety, and the Office of Campus Center and Activities is now the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement.

"The College's institutional plan places a priority on the active promotion of student engagement in and out of the classroom along with the promotion of student commitment to service and community involvement," says Brian McAree, vice president for student affairs and campus life. "These changes will help us substantially as we attempt to accomplish those priorities."

Richardson had served since 2000 as director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). In his new role he will supervise that office along with the Office of Career Services, the College chaplains, and the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration and planning from New York University, where he served as director of the Office for African American, Latino, and Asian American Student Services before coming to Ithaca College. The search for a new OMA director will begin shortly.

"Roger has proven himself to be a creative, visionary, and effective leader," says McAree. "He will work closely with academic affairs on collaborative efforts to enhance existing programs and create new learning opportunities for students."

Prunty, who has served since 2000 as director of conference and event services, will add supervision of dining services and the Campus Center to his responsibilities. He had previously held a series of increasingly responsible positions in the Offices of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs, including assistant director of judicial affairs and assistant director of residential life for operations. He will report to Rory Rothman, associate vice president for student affairs and campus life.

"By having all of these operations report to one director we can improve the coordination of services and programs for the College community as well as for outside clients and guests," says McAree. "David's skill, dedication, and experience at Ithaca College will go a long way toward ensuring that this change will be a successful one."

With Prunty now supervising the Campus Center, the campus activities portion of the operation has been moved to the new Center for Student Leadership and Involvement. "This new title more clearly communicates the mission of this office to help develop student leaders and involve students in organizations and experiences which will maximize their learning and personal development," says McAree.

The staff of the center will continue to oversee more than 140 student organizations; advise the Student Government Association, Student Activities Board, senior class, and Bureau of Concerts; and manage the community service program, leadership development opportunities, IC After Dark program, and Student Activities Center.

Title changes have also taken place within the Office of Public Safety, as the life safety division is now called environmental health and safety, the patrol division is now patrol and security services, and the traffic bureau is now parking and traffic services.

"We will continue to work very hard to make sure that these organizational changes benefit the entire campus and achieve the goals and priorities of the institutional plan," says McAree. "We ask for the College community's patience and understanding as staff move into new roles and learn the 'ins and outs' of their new responsibilities."