University of Connecticut |
HESA FacultyOur faculty members are those that teach courses required within the program on a regular basis. Cynthia Jones, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Cynthia Jones teaches Issues in Resource Management, a class drawing on her unique strengths and experiences in student affairs. Dr. Jones plays a significant role in coordinating the Division of Student Affairs' human resources activities, working on strategic planning, and policy development and revision. Dr. Jones also provides leadership for Divisional marketing and promotional activities and supervises the Department of Career Services. Dr. Jones previously worked at Coe College as the Director of Career Services, and as a Career Counselor at San Diego State University. While at San Diego State University, Dr. Jones also directed an outreach program to increase the diversity of students entering teacher credentialing programs. Donna Korbel, M.Ed.
Director, Center for Students with Disabilities Donna Korbel teaches Leading Toward a Multicultural Educational Environment, a class designed to help students explore racial, ethnic, gender, ability, religion, sexual orientation, and cultural differences. In her role as Director of the Center for Students with Disabilities Donna works to assure University compliance with all relevant state and federal legislation regarding students with disabilities. To this end, Donna develops program services and oversees the development of University policies and procedures and participates in institutional committees to ensure inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all programs and services. Prior to joining the staff at UConn, Donna worked as a Rehabilitation Consultant and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in both public and private organizations. Jennifer Lease Butts, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research and Associate Director, Honors Program Dr. Jennifer Lease Butts teaches the first-year Groups class and has co-taught the Capstone Seminar course for graduating HESA students. Dr. Butts has also been extremely active in the program's planning and development. Dr. Butts' main responsibility is coordination of research opportunities for undergraduate students. Dr. Butts plans and manages various academic endeavors, including the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research annual poster exhibition and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund program. She also teaches and assists with the student affairs functions in the Honors Program. Prior to coming to UConn, Dr. Butts worked in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Department of Housing at the University of Georgia. Sue Saunders, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator Dr. Sue Saunders currently serves as Associate Extension Professor and Coordinator of the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration Program at the University of Connecticut. Her career includes service as a program coordinator and faculty member in the College Student Affairs Administration Program at the University of Georgia. In addition to teaching and research positions, Dr. Saunders has served as the Dean of Student Affairs (CSAO) at Lycoming College (PA), as Dean of Students and as Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees at Longwood University (VA), and in other administrative positions in Virginia, Georgia, and West Virginia. Dr. Saunders earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in counseling, both from Ohio University. Her Ph.D. in counseling and student personnel services is from the University of Georgia. She is the author of 40 publications, including Supervising New Professionals in Student Affairs (2003) and Learning through Supervised Practice in Student Affairs (2002), both written with colleagues from Virginia Tech and the University of Georgia. In 2009, Dr. Saunders published a book entitled From Preparation to Practice: Effective Socialization Strategies for New Professionals in Student Affairs Administration with colleagues from Virginia Tech and the University of Arkansas. Her research interests include patterns of professional development and translation of student development theory to practice. She has served on the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Executive Council and chair of ACPA’s Core Council for the Generation and Dissemination of Knowledge, and currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of College Student Development. She also served as the chair of the 2008 ACPA National Convention. Her professional contributions have been recognized through her selection for ACPA Annuit Coeptis award, ACPA Leadership Foundation Diamond Honoree program, and ACPA Senior Scholars, a group of 15 professionals honored for their contributions to the scholarship of student affairs work. Christine Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Students, Director of Student Activities Dr. Christine Wilson teaches the Structured Group Interventions in Student Affairs course, examining group approaches to the personal and educational development of students and staff in Student Affairs. As director of Student Activities, Dr. Wilson is responsible for the overall administration, management, and operation of a department serving the co-curricular needs of students. The Department of Student Activities includes the Programs Office, Leadership Programs, the Involvement Office, Community Outreach, and the Business Office. Before arriving at UConn, Dr. Wilson served as the Memorial Union Assistant Director for Student Leadership at the University of Rhode Island and as the Director of Student Activities at the University of Baltimore. HESA Affiliate FacultyWe are proud to have the following affiliate professors with us as mentors, coaches, and teachers of elective courses. George Allen, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology Dr. George Allen works with the HESA program as the professor in the year-long Assessment course. This course is taken by students in their first year and includes an in-depth assessment of an on-campus program or concern. Dr. Allen brings four decades of teaching experience, research experience, and general service to the fields of education and psychology. In addition to his years in education, Dr. Allen is a fourth generation educator. Philip Austin, Ph.D.
President Emeritus, University of Connecticut Dr. Austin brings a full career of educational and economical leadership to the HESA elective Administration of Students Affairs in Higher Education. As UConn’s President for 11 years, Dr. Austin helped steer the university to an unprecedented level of prominence and success. Before coming to UConn, Dr. Austin spent seven years as chancellor of the University of Alabama System. Earlier in his career, Dr. Austin was president of Colorado State University, and chancellor of the Colorado State University System. In addition to his work in higher education, Dr. Austin spent time in the nation’s capital with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Denielle Burl, J.D.
Director of Risk Management Attorney Burl comes to the program with both legal and teaching experience. A UConn Law alum, she dedicated her education and experience towards a career in higher education law. Currently the Director of Risk Management, she has served UConn in a number of capacities, advising the University administration on issues related to constitution law, intellectual property, contract law, study abroad programs, student organizations, student health services, technology law, and privacy issues, including FERPA. Ms. Burl is licensed to practice law in Connecticut and New York and is a member of the American, Connecticut and New York Bar Associations. Denielle’s interest in and commitment to higher education extends beyond her legal practice. Currently, she serves as an instructor in First Year Programs, is a UConn CONNECTS mentor and a U-Compass mentor. Prior to UConn, she mentored at UConn Law, taught and served as an academic advisor at Arizona State University and worked in a number of advising capacities at technical colleges throughout the Southwest. David Clokey, M.Ed.
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs David Clokey co-facilitates the HESA student practicum experience. David works with HESA students in their second and third semester to construct beneficial learning experiences in offices across the campus. The practica offer a means for the HESA students to gain a grasp on the many functions and services that different offices within the university provide to students. The practica also provides an opportunity for HESA students to learn how to set and monitor personal learning goals and outcomes, understand organizational culture, apply theory, and employ reflective practice. David provides central leadership for the annual Division budget process, directs the University student fee process, oversees the Division's technology resource plan as well as supervises the Division's IT Department, the Student Union, Dining Services and the ID Office. Prior to his current position, David worked as the Associate Dean of Students for Judicial Affairs at UConn and in a variety of positions in Residential Life at the University of Vermont and the University of Maryland. Catherine Cocks, M.A.
Director, Community Standards Catherine Cocks assists in facilitating the Senior Year Experience component of the HESA program. In this role, Catherine works with several HESA students to prepare for the weekly discussion SYE groups as well as process and examine their personal progress and development. Cathy serves as the Director of Community Standards and is responsible for the coordination of individual and student group-based discipline, development of creative responses to student conduct issues, and the implementation of a comprehensive education process for helping community members fully understand their rights and responsibilities. Community Standards is the home of the UCompass Program, a student engagement initiative. Cathy has also worked as the Assistant Director for Community Development and Residence Education at UConn. Dan Doerr, M.A.
Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs & Director of Senior Transition and Engagement Programs Dan Doerr works with the HESA program as the Director for the Senior Year Experience component. As the STEP director, Dan is responsible for determining facilitation pairs, working with students, and providing opportunities and information for beneficial facilitation experiences. Dan is the founding director of the University of Connecticut's Senior Year Experience and is a 2004 graduate of the HESA program. Prior to working with SYE, Dan worked at UConn as a Housing Assignments Specialist. John Saddlemire, Ed.D.
HESA Program Director In addition to serving as Director of the Program, Dr. John Saddlemire also teaches the electives, The Small College Experience and Foundations and Functions in Higher Education, and co-teaches the Capstone Seminar course. Dr. Saddlemire's leadership is largely responsible for the redevelopment of the University of Connecticut's HESA Program. As Vice President for Student Affairs at UConn, Dr. Saddlemire supervises numerous departments and organizations, including Student Activities, the Student Union, Student Affairs Risk Management, Student Health Services, the Dean of Students Office, Off Campus Student Services, the One Card Office, Residence Life and Housing, Dining Services, the Center for Students with Disabilities, the Office of Alcohol and other Drug Services, Student Affairs Information Technology and Career Services. Prior to accepting the Vice President position, Dr. Saddlemire served as the Dean of Students at UConn, as well as spending time as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Heidelberg College, and the Assistant Dean of College Life at Elizabethtown College. Marie Saddlemire, Ph.D.
Educational Leadership Dr. Marie Saddlemire teaches Law, Ethics, and Decision-Making in Higher Education, an important course that focuses on the impact of the legal system for higher education, as well as legal and ethical issues that arise during administrative decision-making. Dr. Saddlemire previously worked at Eastern Connecticut State University as the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs, as well as serving as the Director of the Learning Center at Heidelberg College and as the Director of the First Year Experience at Bowling Green State University. Barry Schreier, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling & Mental Health Services Dr. Schreier teaches a Helping-Skills focused Issues in Student Affairs Administration elective course for the HESA program. Dr. Schreier brings almost 15 years of work in counseling on college campuses, and has nearly 50 publications and presentations on a variety of important issues. In his role as the Director of Counseling & Mental Health Services, Dr. Schreier has pioneered a new proactive role for the office on campus, and is working with the office of Alcohol and Other Drugs to develop a new substance abuse and dependence assessment and treatment program. Before joining UConn’s Counseling & Mental Health Services, Dr. Schreier worked at Purdue University as a staff psychologist and training coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services. John Sears, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Community Development Dr. John Sears teaches the Current Issues in Student Affairs course, a course designed to prepare students for work in an ever changing field. Prior to his arrival at UConn, John has served as an adjunct faculty member at Assumption College, worked in the housing and student affairs organizations at Curry College and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. John has also spent time in private industry and was a warrant officer in the Army National Guard. In addition to his responsibilities in Residential Life, John serves as co-chair of the Division of Student Affairs Strategic Planning Committee. His research interests include altruism and civic engagement, organizational development and leadership. Todd Sullivan, M.S.
Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Todd Sullivan works with HESA students in the Senior Year Experience component. In this role, Todd works with several HESA students to prepare for the weekly discussion SYE groups as well as process and examine their personal progress and development. Todd joined the staff at UConn after working as the Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs at Tufts University. Todd has also worked at Florida International University and Indiana University. |
