Vice President Student Affairs Placement

Portland Community College Names Dr. José Dela Cruz as their next Vice President of Student Affairs

Dr. José Dela Cruz has been selected as the next Vice President of Student Affairs at Portland Community College, following a highly competitive national search conducted by RH Perry & Associates.

Dr. Dela Cruz, who will begin July 10, is currently the Dean of K-12 Partnerships for Dallas College, providing leadership for and management of the expansion and improvement of dual credit programs. These include Early College High Schools (ECHSs), Pathways to Technology ECHSs and T-STEM programs in coordination with Dallas College and local K12 independent school district executive leadership. As PCC’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Dela Cruz will serve as the Chief Student Affairs Officer, partnering with college leaders to support growth and strategic initiatives for the development, delivery, and coordination of student support services in alignment with its mission, values and strategic plan.

“I’m excited to join a progressive college with a vibrant campus community that is focused on creating spaces where everyone can thrive,” Dela Cruz said. “One thing that stood out during my visit to the college is its commitment to inclusive excellence, and I look forward to leading and collaborating with a dynamic team of student affairs practitioners.”

Dr. Dela Cruz has more than 15 years’ experience in higher education and approaches his work of student advocacy and support through the lens of action research. Prior to his current role, he served as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success at Eastfield College, which was part of the Dallas County Community College District before its reorganization. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma and earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Oklahoma State University with his dissertation research focusing on the college experience of undocumented Latino students.

In his role with PCC, Dr. Dela Cruz will be charged with strengthening relationships across the college’s student support services in order to enhance collaboration and transparency. The VP position provides strategic leadership and direction for Academic and Career Pathways Guidance, Enrollment Strategy & Services, K-12 & Community Partnerships, Student Belonging & Wellbeing, Student Life & Engagement, and Accessible Education. These functional areas reflect over 35 departments, programs, and services across the entire college.

Baldwin Wallace University Names Timeka Rashid as Vice President for Student Affairs

Dr. Timeka Rashid

May 21, 2021

by Shawn Salamone

Baldwin Wallace University has named Dr. Timeka L. Thomas Rashid as the University’s next vice president for student affairs. She will start her new role as one of five VPs in the president’s cabinet on June 1.

The breadth of Rashid’s higher education experience includes student affairs administration, program development and implementation, strategic planning, and community outreach and engagement.

STUDENT-FOCUSED CAREER PATH

Rashid comes to BW from Cleveland State University where she served as assistant vice president for inclusive student engagement since 2019. At CSU, she oversaw the Center for Student Involvement, Veterans and Military Success Center, the Mareyjoyce Green Women Center and the LGBTQ+ Center with a focus on developing student-centered programs that foster holistic learning, health and belonging.

Prior to CSU, Rashid was Kent State University’s associate dean of students, providing strategic leadership and management of parent and family programs, the Center for Adult and Veterans Services (CAVS), International Affairs and the student union, as well as regional campus program development. She also developed strategies to support diversity, equity, inclusion and student success efforts. Rashid began her tenure at Kent State in 2010 as director of the center for student involvement.

Rashid started her student affairs career at Otterbein College (now University) in Westerville, Ohio as assistant director of the Center for Community Engagement and a residence hall director.

ALIGNING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING

“The BW community is thrilled to welcome someone of Timeka’s caliber to BW’s leadership team,” said BW President Bob Helmer. “Her experience in student engagement, success and inclusion spans small independents and large public institutions and represents an impressive track record of success. We are confident in her ability to build on BW’s excellent student experience.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and eager to join the BW community,” Rashid said. “BW’s personalized approach to engaging and supporting the whole student aligns with my own thinking, practice and vision. Student success, in and out of the classroom, including health, well-being, inclusion and retention-based engagement, will continue to be the highest priority as we innovate the BW student experience into the future.”

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Rashid holds a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration from Ohio University, a Master of Arts in higher education and student affairs administration from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in history and black studies from The College of Wooster.

In addition to presenting at a variety of national professional conferences, Rashid has served as adjunct faculty in KSU’s College of Education and on a number of dissertation committees.

She is also an active member of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Ohio College Personnel Association (OCPA).