About a year after his predecessor left Miami University to work in Qatar, new Interim Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Mark Shanley has enjoyed his first month working with student organizations.
Shanley, who was previously vice president for student affairs at Northern Kentucky University, was picked from a nationwide list of interim candidates for university student affairs positions two weeks before Miami announced it would decrease the number of administrative and faculty positions it would fill, effective until June 2009.
Shanley's role includes supervising student activities including Associated Student Government (ASG), Greek affairs, student services and leadership activities, as well as serving as an adviser to Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Jones.
Jones described Shanley's role in the student affairs office as a combination of the positions of former Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Denny Roberts, and former director of Student Activities and Leadership Gary Manka.
Shanley said the dynamic of having two new top administrators-Jones began her position in the summer-in student affairs has been interesting as he gets acclimated to Miami's environment.
"My mantra is that I've been drinking from a firehose since I've been here," he said. "But what's most exciting to me about Miami is working with the students."
Prior to working at Miami, Shanley worked at Youngstown State, University of South Carolina, Truman State University and Northern Kentucky University (NKU).
Jones said Shanley fit the mold for the vacant assistant vice president slot because of his experience as a vice president, and the flexibility that an interim position can provide.
"The advantage of an interim assistant is that it gives us flexibility of peoples' reporting and responsibilities," she said. "(Shanley) had been a VP of student affairs at other institutions … (and he) came in with the big picture in mind."
Jones added that the student affairs office is finalizing its process of looking at its five-year strategic goals, to be presented to President David Hodge by the end of the semester.
For now, Shanley hopes to bring diverse groups together in programs.
"That's what I'd like to do across the board, I'd like to be a real catalyst for programming here," he said.
Although his tenure is yet to be decided, Shanley said he was drawn to Miami because of its mission, beautiful campus and the "gleam of the eye" of its students.
"Last year I was hired on as a consultant to Miami (while still at NKU)," he said. "And I'm absolutely delighted to see references to unique Miami experience … I get goosebumps talking about it … I went from 30,000 feet (working at NKU) to 10,000 feet then as a consultant (to Miami), and now I'm on the ground."
