Campus Life

UF selects new Dean of Students

After a national search, the University of Florida announced Dr. Heather White has been selected as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, effective in January.

The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students oversees the Dean of Students Office, the Counseling and Wellness Center and Multicultural and Diversity Affairs.

"Out of a robust and competitive applicant and finalist pool, Dr. White’s proven track record of innovation, leadership and excellence will help us serve today’s students and plan for tomorrow’s,” said Dr. David Parrott, vice president for Student Affairs.

Dr. White has spent the last six months serving as the interim Dean of Students. During this time, she led the department through extensive organizational and budgetary realignments. She worked with her team to successfully secure more than $600,000 of the Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CITF) allocation for the expansion of the Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry and jumpstarted a restructuring of the university student medical withdrawal process to an online platform.

Prior to her role as interim Dean of Students, Dr. White led UF’s nationally recognized Career Resource Center for six years, pushing the department forward into innovative and groundbreaking models and programing to enhance career support. She has also worked in Housing and Residence Life and campus activities at Jacksonville University, Valdosta State University, and Mississippi State University.

Through the search process, the Division of Student Affairs brought four candidates to Gainesville for on-campus interviews. The finalists were strongly vetted through a review of stakeholder feedback, strengths/weaknesses provided by the search committee, and extensive reference checks with the candidates’ current and former employers/faculty members. All of this information informed the decision.

For the role of Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, we sought an individual with strategic vision and leadership, strong communication skills, and a history of meaningful collaborations, among other attributes.

UF News Author
December 15, 2017