Emory University has named Enku Gelaye as vice president and dean of Campus Life. She will assume the post in August 2019.   

“Enku Gelaye is a nationally recognized leader in student affairs and higher education,” says Emory President Claire E. Sterk. “I’m honored to welcome her to our community, and I’m confident that all of us will benefit from her leadership. Working together, we can reimagine what it means to have an outstanding student experience at Emory.” 

“Enku Gelaye brings a wealth of experience and record of inspirational leadership in student affairs and campus life,” says Dwight A. McBride, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Enku will work in partnership with university leaders to closely advance our institutional priority of enhancing the undergraduate and graduate student experiences by fully integrating the work of the Campus Life division with Emory’s academic mission.”

Gelaye will provide strategic and visionary leadership for Emory’s Campus Life division, which is recognized internationally for building a campus culture that reflects Emory’s values and the division’s mission to “enhance the overall student experience and develop adults who are informed, compassionate, conscientious, healthy and active global citizens.” 

In her new role, Gelaye will be responsible for delivering Campus Life’s services and support for more than 15,000 students in areas such as undergraduate residential life, health and wellness, athletics, and civic engagement, among others. She also will oversee the opening of a new three-story student center and the implementation of the division’s strategic plan. 

Gelaye said, “I’m honored to have been selected by Emory for this leadership position. I want to thank President Sterk and Provost McBride for their confidence in me, and I’m looking forward to meeting Emory’s students, faculty and staff so we can build the future together.” 

Gelaye currently serves as vice chancellor of student affairs and campus life at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In that capacity, she provides leadership for more than 600 full-time staff members serving more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Her responsibilities include: residential life; multicultural advancement; counseling and psychological health; student success, engagement, and leadership; as well as parent and student programs. 

Gelaye brings to Emory more than 20 years of professional experience in higher education. Prior to her current role at the University of Massachusetts, Gelaye served that institution as associate vice chancellor and dean of student affairs and campus life. Earlier in her career, she held positions at the University of California, Los Angeles, as executive officer in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and as associate dean of students in the Office of the Dean of Students, and at the University of Southern California in the Office of Student Conduct.

Gelaye holds a J.D. from the University of Georgia and a bachelor of science degree in print journalism from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.