Jeanne Steffes elected president of ACPA-College Student Educators International

Jeanne Steffes elected president of ACPA-College Student Educators InternationalMarch 13, 2006SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Jeanne S. Steffes, associate vice president for student affairs at Syracuse University, has been named to a second term as president of the American College Personnel Association — College Student Educators International (ACPA). Following ACPA’s 82nd Annual Convention, March 18 – 22 in Indianapolis, Steffes will serve as president for the 2006 – 07 term. Steffes succeeds current president Gregory S. Blimling, vice president for student affairs at Rutgers University – New Brunswick.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition, and even more by this opportunity to collaborate with my accomplished peers,” says Steffes. “These interactions will help us conceptualize the ways in which Scholarship in Action is evolving to benefit not only the SU community, but all of higher education.”

This election makes her the second person in ACPA history to serve two terms as president. Since 2003, Steffes has served as ACPA president-elect, president and past-president.

“Dr. Steffes is a person of high integrity and passion for student development,” says Gregory Roberts, executive director of ACPA. “It will be an honor to work with her again in this leadership role.”

In September 2005, Steffes joined SU as associate vice president for student affairs in the Division of Student Affairs, coming to SU from the University of Maryland – College Park. Her responsibilities include assisting the senior vice president and dean of student affairs in managing the division and working incollaboration with the Dean’s Cabinet, the division’s primary leadership group, on strategic planning, policy development and implementation, fiscal management, advancing diversity initiatives and other efforts.

“Throughout her career in student affairs, Jeanne has inspired her colleagues with her dedication to students and the improvement of their co-curricular experience,” says Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “Since joining us at SU, she has infused many parts of the University with her tremendous energy and exemplary commitment to professional excellence. As just the second two-time president of ACPA, Jeanne is poised to lead the student affairs profession in the 21st century and to bring the highest levels of expertise and attention to her work at SU.”

Steffes has more than 20 years of professional experience in higher education. While working at the University of Maryland – College Park, she served as the founding director of the Beyond the Classroom Living and Learning Program in the Division of Undergraduate Studies. She was previously the coordinator of the Training and Academic Support Programs for the Department of Resident Life.

Steffes holds leadership positions in several national professional associations. She has served as president of the Maryland College Personnel Association (MCPA) and has been an active leader with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the National Association for Women in Education (NAWE).

Along with her leadership experience in ACPA, Steffes has received several of ACPA’s highest awards. She was the recipient of ACPA’s Outstanding State and International Division Leader Award in 1998 and the ACPA Outstanding Research Award in 2001. The following year, she received the Outstanding Mentor to Graduate Students/New Professionals Award. In 2003, she received the Annuit Coeptis Senior Professional Award and was named a Diamond Honoree by ACPA Educational Leadership Foundation.

Steffes received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Marquette University, a master’s degree in physical education and recreation sports management fromThe Ohio State University and a Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership from the University of Maryland.

Founded in 1924, ACPA, headquartered in Washington, D.C., at the National Center for Higher Education, leads the way in research and dissemination of knowledge on college student learning. Its network of national and international members affects policies, practices and programs in the higher education community, advocating for social justice and human dignity rights of its members, who prepare students to live and work in a diverse world.

The Division of Student Affairs at Syracuse University is working to achieve its vision of becoming the international leader in student-centered, co-curricular education, demonstrating a commitment to collaborative learning, citizen development and the celebration of diversity. The division’s vision is charted in its 2001-06 Strategic Plan, which isavailable at http://students.syr.edu.