Assumption Enhances Programs and Services to Meet Unique and Emerging Needs of Students
Vice President for Student Success Named to Lead New Division That Will Focus Upon Student Retention and Achievement
In response to the ever-changing demographics of its student body, Assumption has announced the creation of a new position, vice president for student success, which will focus on student achievement in all of its dimensions across the institution’s many departments and divisions. Conway Campbell, the current dean of students, will assume this new role on July 1.
“As the demographics of Assumption change, and our student population becomes more diverse, so too must the services and opportunities we provide students to meet these evolving needs,” said President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. “Enhancing the various resources afforded to students, in particular first-generation students, is key in ensuring their academic success, resilience, retention, persistence to graduation and employability. I am pleased to appoint Mr. Conway Campbell to this critical position.”
In this new position, Campbell will oversee the Cross Cultural Center, an endeavor to sustain an environment that encourages and embraces the contributions of students from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. The Student Accessibility Services, Academic Support Center, and Career Development and Internship Center will report directly to Campbell in this new capacity. He will also lead essential initiatives, such as the Mentor Collective Program, the new ALANA Pre-orientation program, the Presidential Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity; and serve as chair of both the Retention Committee and Dean’s Council.
“As vice president for student success, I am looking forward to leading my colleagues who already provide essential success services for all our students,” said Campbell. “This is an exciting time for me to be in this role as Assumption embarks on a new organizational model; and as the campus community has a renewed focus on strategies to retain and increase the resilience and persistence of students.”
Campbell has more than 25 years of direct experience in higher education. In addition to dean of students, he has previously served Assumption as dean of campus life, in which he provided a vision for programming and leadership development that highlights the mission and identity of the institution and helped develop a culture of student satisfaction relative to quality of life priorities. He has also held the titles of associate dean of campus life/ director of residential life, and interim director of multicultural affairs. In these roles, he collaborated with colleagues to design and implement programs to educate the campus community about multiculturalism and diversity matters while serving as an advocate for the ALANA Network.
He has served on and made meaningful contributions to a number of committees and initiatives during his tenure at Assumption, including the Presidential Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity; New Student Orientation Committee; Retention Committee; the creation of the men’s group Positively Achieving Leadership by Men in Society (PALMS); and many others that have benefited from his many years of experience in higher education.
Campbell holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Connecticut; a Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell; and he will receive a Doctorate in Education specializing in higher education leadership in May 2019 from Regis College.
Campbell began his career as a resident director at Bentley University and as resident director, assistant director of new student orientation, and summer conference housing coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He also served as assistant director and director of Residential Life at Connecticut College.