Marshall University is trying to emphasize the importance of its students' engagement by replacing the dean of students with a new position in the president's cabinet: vice president of student affairs.
Provost Gayle Ormiston announced Tuesday morning that, following a national search, Cedric Gathings, would fill the new role.
"I can honestly say the biggest opportunity for me is coming in and just listening - listening to the students, to the faculty and the people within the division of student affairs," said Gathings, currently an interim assistant vice president for multicultural affairs at Mississippi State University. "Together, we will make a decision for how we can move our division forward."
In the new post, Gathings will oversee the all of the programs and employees that fall under student affairs, including a counseling center, the school's student government, disability services, health services and student conduct.
Gathings plans to spend time after he arrives conducting listening tours across the campus with different parts of the Marshall community to learn how he can best serve everyone. Much of his job, in fact, is dependent upon the needs of the student body.
"As a first generation college student myself, I know the importance of higher education and how it has helped me," Gathings said. "My plan is to get in and let the students get to know me as a person, first."
Gathings has spent 15 years working in higher education at Mississippi State. He has worn many hats through the years there, including a recent two-year stint as the school's associate director for fraternity and sorority life, according to a news release.
Gathings' will start on July 1. He will replace an interim dean of students who has held the position since the former dean of students, Steve Hensley, retired.
Reach Jake Jarvis at jake.jarvis@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-7939 or follow @NewsroomJake on Twitter.