By Bt Matt Thacker
Denise Gifford resigned her position as vice president for Student Affairs this summer, prompting a search for her replacement and possibly triggering a change in the structure of the Student Affairs office.
Gifford, whose resignation took effect Aug. 1, worked nearly 30 years at the university and had served as vice president for Student Affairs the past 10 years.
“Dr. Gifford was a strong student advocate, and she will be missed,” University Provost Shirley Willihnganz said. Willihnganz credited Gifford with expanding on-campus housing and residence life, increasing intramural sports and beginning international student service programs.
Gifford, who accepted a new position as dean of Students for Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai, has already left the United States and was not immediately available for comment.
However, in a letter published by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Gifford showed interest in returning to U of L to teach after one or two years abroad. She also expressed excitement over her new opportunity.
“The UAE is a small and very oil-rich country that is establishing a strong national education and higher education system,” Gifford stated. “I am thrilled to be part of the early years of this university.”
Her resignation left a vacancy that will be filled temporarily by Dr. Michael Cuyjet. He will hold the title of acting associate provost for Campus Life and Student Development and will take over many of Gifford’s former responsibilities until the office is restructured and a long-term replacement is selected.
“I’m delighted that Dr. Michael Cuyjet will … lead this effort,” Willihnganz said. “Dr. Cuyjet has worked closely with student life for years and brings great expertise and experience to the position.”
Willihnganz said that although the student services functions of Student Affairs have moved under the Provost’s office, she doesn’t expect this to be long-term.
Cuyjet said he plans to bring together the academic mission of the university with the goals of the Student Affairs office.
Nathan Haney, executive vice president for the SGA, said he has been informed there will be a national search for a replacement. Haney, along with representatives from several other campus groups, will have input in the search.
Haney described the role of vice president of Student Affairs as similar to that of a parent, sometimes getting calls in the middle of the night because of a tragedy, and sometimes offering advice to students facing a variety of situations. The position has also been students’ link to the Office of the President. Gifford not only met with SGA and Campus Life leaders, but also sat in on meetings with the university president.
The SGA wants that level of representation to continue. If the university appoints a dean rather than a vice president to lead Student Affairs, Haney fears that students would not have as much access to the president. No decisions have been made as to the title of the new position or the new structure of Student Affairs, but Willihnganz said she agrees with the SGA that the position is critical to the university.
Each state-funded university in Kentucky currently has a vice president of Students Affairs, except for Morehead State, which does not have Student Affairs. Meanwhile, most Kentucky community colleges have deans of Student Affairs.
Of U of L’s 18 benchmark institutions, 16 schools have either a vice president or vice chancellor of Student Affairs or Student Life. Two other universities use deans.
Michelle Clemons, executive director of Campus Life, said she has met with the provost and is excited about the “new opportunities to provide even higher-quality programs, services and activities for our students.”
No timeline has been set for the hiring or restructuring processes.
