Vice President Yolanda Gibson Earns New Title & Role
Gibson will become new vice president for student affairs
Yolanda Barbier Gibson, D.A., who has served as vice president for student success at Shenandoah University since June 2019, will expand her role and become the university’s vice president for student affairs, effective June 1, 2020.
In her new position, Dr. Gibson will oversee both student success and student life.
I am extremely honored and elated to have the opportunity to combine the division of student success and student life into one division to strengthen the student experience, persistence, retention, and graduation rates at Shenandoah. Additionally, I am eager to partner more closely with the staff in student life to develop a comprehensive system of student support and programming that enables students to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom. I am so thankful for the leadership and support of Dr. Rhonda VanDyke during this transitional period. I would like to also thank President Fitzsimmons for the opportunity to serve as the vice president for student affairs.”
Yolanda Barbier Gibson, D.A.
Gibson will oversee:
- career services
- counseling services
- the dean of student success
- Title IX
- the care team
- student conduct
- new student orientation
- enrollment management and retention
- the Learning Resource Center
- the Wellness Center
- civic engagement
- student engagement
- Shenandoah Outdoor and Adventure Recreation (SOAR)
- residential life
- spiritual life
- diversity, inclusion and equity
As vice president for student success, Dr. Gibson demonstrates a strong commitment to Shenandoah and its students, and consistently demonstrates the great value she brings to our institution. She’s both a warm and strong leader, and I’m confident she will be able to build upon the successes of her predecessors.”
President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.
Gibson holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication, with a minor in business, from Marymount University. She earned a master’s in community college teaching and a Doctor of Arts in higher education administration, both from George Mason University.
Gibson, who is a first-generation college graduate, previously served as both the associate dean of first-year experience and the chief alumni relations officer at Marymount University. In 2018-2019, she held a prestigious American Council on Education Leadership Fellowship at Towson University in Maryland.
In her new role, Gibson will assume the responsibilities currently overseen by Rhonda VanDyke, D.Min., who has been the vice president of student life since 2011. Dr. VanDyke will retire June 1, 2020. Prior to her current position, she served as the dean of spiritual life at Shenandoah for five years.
When President Fitzsimmons appointed me as vice president, she charged me with ‘radically changing the student culture. In hindsight it is our students who have changed me. Stories of their compassion, responsibility, advocacy and justice inspire me and light the way for generations of students yet to come.”
Rhonda VanDyke, D.Min.
More new positions and promotions
Rev. Justin Allen, D.Min., who currently serves as assistant vice president for student life and as the dean of spiritual life, will become the new associate vice president for student affairs while remaining in his dean position. This change takes effect Feb. 1.
The Center for Public Service and Scholarship will become the Center for Civic Engagement on Feb. 1. Keith Jones Pomeroy, M.S., will lead the new center as the director for civic engagement. Pomeroy has served as the assistant director of spiritual life since 2017 and was the spiritual life coordinator for two years before that. Pomeroy received his Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, and his Master of Science in organizational development and leadership with a concentration in higher education structure and policy from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania.
Pomeroy will oversee the university’s activities related to engaging in community service, fostering a commitment to civic engagement and public service, supporting faculty in offering service-learning opportunities, organizing mission trips, and developing leaders who have empathy and a commitment to service.
Since their arrivals at Shenandoah, Justin’s and Keith’s roles and influence have grown and their passion and joy have become contagious among students, faculty and staff. The promotions announced this week are just the latest mile markers for their leadership journey at Shenandoah.”
Rhonda VanDyke, D.Min.
