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Committee formed to guide search for next leader of Emory Campus Life
outside view of the facade of the Emory Student Center

A search advisory committee has been appointed to lead the national search for Emory’s next vice president for student engagement and dean of Campus Life. The committee, which includes students, faculty, staff and alumni, will guide the process of identifying a leader to oversee Campus Life.

Badia Ahad, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, announced the search advisory committee Jan. 16. Ahad will serve as chair, with Shari Obrentz, associate dean in the Office for Undergraduate Education in Emory College, serving as co-chair. The full list of committee members is below.

“The work of Campus Life is integral to shaping the experience of every student at Emory, making this role a pivotal leadership position for the entire university,” says Ahad. “It is our intention to identify a leader who will champion Campus Life’s mission, cultivate a thriving campus community and enhance student success and well-being at Emory.”

The committee will host a series of listening sessions with stakeholders within Campus Life and across Emory to gather input on the type of leader the community is seeking.

Emory has retained the executive search firm Spelman Johnson to support the process. The firm has extensive experience identifying accomplished higher education leaders in student affairs and athletics and recreation.

Following the listening sessions and development of a search website, Emory will launch the public phase of the search in the coming weeks. Ahad previously shared the goal to have the new vice president for student engagement and dean of Campus Life in place by July 1, 2026.

Keiko Price Carter, associate vice president of Campus Life and Clyde Partin Sr. Director of Athletics, will continue to serve as the interim dean of Campus Life until a new leader is in place.


Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Campus Life Search Advisory Committee
 

Chair: Badia Ahad, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Co-Chair: Shari Obrentz, Associate Dean, Office for Undergraduate Education

Members:

  • Danielle Bruce-Steele, Director, Office of LGBT Life
  • Jennifer Cason, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Laney Graduate School
  • Darleny Cepin, Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life & Chief Student Affairs Officer, Oxford College
  • April Flint, Senior Director, Recreation and Wellness; Secretary, University Senate
  • Erin Herting, Interim Chief Business Officer, Emory Campus Life
  • Morieka Johnson, Director of Communications, Emory Police Department and President-Elect, Staff Council
  • John Jordak 93L, Senior Counsel, Alston & Bird LLP; Emory Alumni Board President
  • Shinn Ko, Associate Vice Provost, International Services & Global Engagement
  • Tyler Martinez, Student, Emory College of Arts and Sciences; President, Student Government Association
  • Sharon Rabinovitz, Executive Director, Emory Student Health Services; Assistant Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine
  • Scott Rausch, Senior Director of Residence, Sorority, and Fraternity Life
  • Teresa Rivero 85Ox 87B 93MPH, Lead Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation; Chair, Campus Life Committee of the Emory University Board of Trustees
  • Jack Steffen, Student, Oxford College; President, Oxford College Student Government Association
  • Ana Catarina Teixeira, Associate Teaching Professor of Portuguese, Emory College; Advisor, Empowering First Community
  • Ariel Paz Yitzchaki, Student, School of Law; President, Graduate Student Government Association

Search Administrator: Michele Hempfling, Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost, michele.hempfling@emory.edu


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