Appointment of Jason Campbell-Foster as Dean of Students
From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Last October, following the appointment of Jason Campbell-Foster as interim associate provost and dean of students for the 2022-2023 academic year, we announced a national level search to identify a permanent incumbent for this important University-wide position. We have now successfully concluded our search, and after a competitive process that evaluated several very strong candidates, I am excited to announce the appointment of Jason Campbell-Foster as dean of students, effective immediately.
Jason has been with the Dean of Students Office since 2019, when he joined BU as senior associate dean of students. In that role, he served as chief deputy to the dean on all matters pertaining to the residential student experience. Jason’s portfolio grew considerably during the COVID pandemic the following year, as he oversaw critical elements of the University’s student-facing response – particularly related to compliance and helping secure safe destinations for those in need at the pandemic’s outset. Both during and post-COVID, Jason was a valued partner at the University level, collaborating – through communications, special initiatives, and outreach – with offices and organizations across BU to cultivate a supportive environment where undergraduate and graduate students of all backgrounds and abilities could thrive in their studies and feel a sense of belonging. In the time since his interim appointment last summer, Jason has grown further into the position, providing steady, responsive leadership. He has made organizational enhancements at the Dean of Students Office focused on the staff experience and professional development, engaged thoughtfully and regularly with students across a wide range of settings and events, and coordinated effectively with counterparts across the University to deliver quality services and experiences for our students and their families.
The dean of students is among the most important and multifaceted roles at an institution of BU’s size, requiring a special level of organizational skill, nimbleness, empathy, and connectedness to our dynamic and diverse student body. The role is central to countless efforts – operationally and culturally – across our residential learning community, from helping students acclimate to life at BU, to setting and regulating standards for conduct and collegiality, and working to ensure the University experience is accessible and welcoming to all students. It additionally works to lead and implement many of the student- and community-focused priorities in our strategic plan and oversee a portfolio of offices critical to the BU experience including the Community Service Center, Disability & Access Services, the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, Judicial Affairs, Orientation, Residence Life, and Student Activities.
Through both his service in the interim role and our lengthy discussions throughout his candidacy, it was clear that Jason’s energy and relatable personality, his 20-plus years of experience in student affairs and managing large, complex teams, and his strong belief in the potential of student services to make a powerful, positive difference in students’ lives suit him especially well for this position.
Prior to his arrival at BU in 2019, Jason spent 14 years in student affairs at Northeastern University, concluding his service there as associate dean of students. He is an active member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and provides leadership on a host of University-wide efforts including our Retention and Student Success Committee, the Committee on Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention, and as a strategic priority sponsor of the Community, Big Yet Small pillar of the BU2030 Strategic Plan. Jason holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern, an MS in college student personnel administration from Canisius College, and a BA in English from State University of New York at Fredonia.
Please join me in congratulating Jason on his appointment and wishing him well as he transitions into this permanent role. I would also like to express my gratitude to the members of the Dean of Students Search Advisory Committee, chaired by College of General Studies Dean Natalie McKnight, for their diligence and excellent work over the last six months. Finally, I would like to thank our entire community – in particular, our students – for your engagement with this process and for sharing your time and perspective on the qualities essential for the associate provost and dean of students. The success of this search would not have been possible without your contributions, and we look further to building on the services, support, and sense of community we provide as an institution.
Dean of Students Search Advisory Committee
Chair:
Natalie McKnight, Dean and Professor of Humanities, College of General Studies
Members:
Irving Bigio, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
Joseph Calabrese, Associate Dean of Students; Clinical Professor of General Dentistry, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Amie Grills, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs
Steve Jarvi, Associate Dean for Student Academic Life, College of Arts & Sciences
Reggie Jean, Director, Upward Bound, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
Christine McGuire, Vice President and Associate Provost for Enrollment & Student Administration
Drew Marrochello, Director of Athletics
Gael Orsmond, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Professor of Occupational Therapy, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
Staff Liaisons:
Gina Ford, Project Manager, Office of the Provost
Megan Funaro, Assistant Provost for Operations
Appointment of Jason Campbell-Foster as Dean of Students – 5.18.23