Alfred University appoints Amy M. DeKay new vice president for Student Experience

ALFRED, NY – Alfred University announces the appointment of Amy M. DeKay as the University’s new vice president for Student Experience, effective July 11. DeKay comes to Alfred University with 25 years of experience in higher education student-focused positions, including the last 13 as vice president for Student Development at her alma mater, Medaille College in Buffalo.

“We are pleased that Amy DeKay is joining us as our vice president for Student Experience,” Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, commented. “Throughout her career in higher education, Amy has distinguished herself as an administrator committed to enhancing students’ college experience and promoting their success.”

“I am thrilled to be appointed as Alfred University’s vice president for Student Experience. This position shows Alfred’s commitment to its students,” DeKay said. “I look forward to building on all that Alfred University is, including working with the University and community to further our robust student experience and engagement opportunities.”

DeKay earned a bachelor’s degree in child and youth services from Medaille in 1995 and went on to earn a master’s degree in student personnel administration from SUNY College at Buffalo in 1997. She served as assistant/associate dean of students and director of Student Activities/Campus Center Operations and New Student Orientation at Medaille from 1997 until 2009. In 2009, she was appointed vice president for Student Development. From 2013-19, DeKay also served as Director of Athletics.

As a member of the President’s Cabinet at Medaille, DeKay helped promote and implement the College’s strategic plan focused on increasing undergraduate and graduate student enrollment. She provided leadership across the Medaille campus, examining and evaluating new student programs and efforts aimed at ensuring student success. She also oversaw departments providing student development and retention services, including Residence Life, Career Planning, Athletics, Student Involvement, Multicultural Education and Diversity, Counseling Services, and Health Services.

Zupan expressed appreciation to the search committee for its work in developing such a strong list of candidates and overseeing the selection process. The search committee included: Beth Ann Dobie, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs; Shelly Freyn, assistant professor of marketing; Jonathan Kent, vice president of Enrollment Management; academic success coach Kassie McCarn ’16, MS ’18; Samuella Tuffour ’23, a leader from Alfred University’s Student Senate; and Zupan.

A Trustee Advisory Committee which provided counsel to the search committee was comprised of alumni Michele Cohen HD ’18, chair of our Board’s Student Experience committee; Kristen Klabin ’92, MS ’93, vice chair of our Board’s Student Experience committee; Eric Zuckerman ’03, vice chair of our 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.

Zupan also thanked Nadine Shardlow ’86, M.S. ’17, director of the University’s Opportunities Programs and executive director of the Pamela Lavin Bernstein ’71 Center for Advising, and Paul Vecchio, director of athletics, for their dedication to the University in serving since January as co-interim vice presidents for Student Experience while the search for the new vice president was under way.