Alfred University to begin search for next leader of Division of Student Affairs

ALFRED, NY – Alfred University President Mark Zupan announces that Jonathan Kent is stepping away from his role as interim vice president of Student Affairs, effective January 24, and will serve solely as vice president of Enrollment Management. Kent, who was appointed vice president of Enrollment Management in January 2020, has been serving the Division of Student Affairs as interim vice president since July 2021.

“I wish to thank Jonathan Kent for leading our Student Affairs division over the last six months in addition to serving as vice president of Enrollment Management,” Zupan commented. “Jonathan has gone above and beyond the call of duty and exceeded the high expectations that we had of him; expectations based upon both the heightened challenges due to COVID and Jonathan’s own professional track record.”

Zupan said a search will begin next week for the next leader of the Division of Student Affairs. The membership of the search committee will include Zupan (committee chair); Beth Ann Dobie, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs; Kent; academic success coach Kassie McCarn ’16, MS ’18; and Samuella Tuffour ’23, a leader from Alfred University’s Student Senate. A Board of Trustees Advisory Committee will provide counsel to our search committee and will be comprised of: Michele Cohen HD ’18, chair of the Board’s Student Affairs committee; Kristen Klabin ’92, MS ’93, vice chair of the Board’s Student Affairs committee; Eric Zuckerman ’03, vice chair of the Board’s Enrollment Management Committee; and Mike Christakis ’99, a former Board member and current vice president of student affairs and professor of public administration and policy at the University of Albany.

A search firm will assist the University in building a deep and diverse candidate pool. In the interim, Nadine Shardlow ’86, MS ’17, executive director HEOP and the Center for Advising, and Paul Vecchio, director of athletics, will lead the Division of Student Affairs.

“Nadine and Paul are experienced and capable campus leaders who have effectively partnered together over the years,” Zupan commented. “Nadine will oversee student advising and career development while Paul will focus on student life including food service, housing, wellness, safety, diversity/inclusion, student involvement, and athletics.”