Former Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Juan Gonzalez unexpectedly ended his tenure at the University this summer to take a position as Vice President for Student Affairs at Arizona State University. Former Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Todd Olson is now serving as the interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
Gonzales is remembered for successfully dealing with a budget crisis early in his tenure, expanding the student affairs operations, successfully fundraising for the Third Century Campaign, shutting down the annual block party and bolstering resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students.
Gonzalez, in an early July interview, cited his desires to get back to the Southwest, to be closer to family and to be a part of “a community that better reflects [his] culture and language” as the reasons he decided to accept the position at ASU.
Olson took over for Gonzalez during the beginning of July and has since been working “to keep up the momentum of his predecessor.”
Instead of appointing someone to fill the role he previously filled, Olson has shifted the responsibility of his former position to several existing members of the student affairs staff. The moves included promoting former Associate Dean of Students Jeanne Lord to the role of Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, former Director of the Student Primary Care Clinic Dr. James Walsh to Associate Vice President of Student Health and former Director of the Center for Minority Affairs Dennis Williams to Associate Dean of Student Affairs. While each of these administrators will keep most of the responsibility of his or her former jobs, added responsibilities will come with their new positions.
Olson’s list of priorities includes facilitating a smooth transition into the new Southwest Quadrangle facility, planning for the space left vacant by the former New South cafeteria and helping the several new administators become acclimated to the Georgetown community. Dr. Olson has also been working extensively to create student life programs within the new Southwest Quadrangle.
According to Olson, University President John J. DeGioia and University Provost James T. O’Donnell will decide whether to officially hire him as the Vice President for Student Affairs or to conduct a search to fill the position. The timeframe of that decision is currently unknown.
