Central College announces leadership roles in student life office
PELLA, Iowa — Central College President Mark Putnam recently announced the upcoming appointments of two key positions in the student life office. Eric Jones, currently director of academic support services, has been named interim dean of students and member of the senior leadership team effective June 10. The position of associate dean of student life will be filled by Charlie Strey effective Aug. 1.
Jones is stepping into a larger role with the departure of current dean of students JoNes VanHecke on the horizon. VanHecke will start her new appointment as vice president for student life and dean of students at her alma mater, Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.), this summer.
“Eric has an incredible devotion to students,” said Putnam. “He’s played many leadership roles on our campus and this is a critical role in an important time for Central College.”
Over the years, Jones has served as interim director of residence life, residence hall director, interim director of student activities, counselor and admission counselor, and most recently as director of academic support services, instructor of Intro to College Success (ICS) and assistant football coach. A 1987 Central College graduate, Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in social science and completed an M.S. in counseling from Iowa State in 1994. He is reality therapy certified.
Outside of his time at Central College, Jones expanded his work with students as a teacher and coach in the South Shelby School District (Mo.), as an at-risk coordinator and coach for Pella Community School District, a student-athlete mentor at Iowa State University and dean of students at Waukee Community Schools.
Strey brings over 30 years of student affairs experience to Central College.
“Charlie has a great depth of knowledge,” said Putnam. “We welcome him as a very highly regarded student affairs professional and we look forward to his leadership in fostering a great campus life experience for our students.”
Strey currently serves as assistant dean of students and director of residential life at Gustavus Adolphus. He’s taken courses toward a Doctorate of Educational Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, earned an M.S. in guidance and counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a B.A. in comparative studies in religion from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Prior to his time at Gustavus, Strey was director of residence life at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn., and coordinator for residence hall administration at the University of Nebraska. He was complex director at Minnesota State University-Mankato, residence hall director at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and graduate resident director at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
His experience in the classroom includes coordination and teaching of January-term course LeadStrong. He’s also been a guest lecturer for the freshman year experience on Myers-Briggs type indicator and educational psychology, faith development; and instructor of multiple leadership classes.
Strey presented numerous educational sessions, hosted conferences and served as secretary to the executive committee of the Upper Midwest Region-Association of College and University Housing Officers. Additionally, he served as host committee co-chair for the Minneapolis Conference of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International; and is a member and conference presenter for the Association of College Personnel Administrators.
Central College will begin a national search for dean of students in the fall with an expected appointment in summer 2012.
Central College is a four-year, private, residential, liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa, affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Central was recognized in the 2011 U.S.News & World Report’s annual rankings of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation. Central’s study abroad program was included in the programs to look for section. For more information about Central College, go to www.central.edu.
