IU has selected Dave O'Guinn to take over from Lori Reesor as the new vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, as of May 15.
O'Guinn, who is currently the chief litigation counsel at IU's Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, has been appointed for a a two-year term, pending approval from the IU Board of Trustees according to an IU press release.
O'Guinn joined IU as an associate general counsel in 2007 and later became chief litigation counsel in 2014. Before joining IU as counsel, O'Guinn was a senior associate in the labor and employment department at Dinsmore & Shohl in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"It's a huge honor to follow in the footsteps of our previous deans," O'Guinn said in the press release. "I am humbled by the tremendous responsibility to care for our students and to take on this legacy. When I was an undergrad and a student leader at DePauw, each of my deans and mentors attended IU for graduate school, which was the primary reason I went to graduate school at IU."
According to the release, O'Guinn earned a bachelor's degree in political science from DePauw University, a master's degree in higher education and student affairs from IU and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Notre Dame Law School.
He has also served as a residential fellow for freshman and sophomores for the past four years, where he provided mentoring and guidance. The release also stated he's taught at IU's School of Education and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
"Dave has maintained a vibrant connection to his roots in student affairs," IU Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel said in the press release. "In this role, I know he will encourage and support students throughout their IU journeys, helping connect them with everything from health and well-being resources to leadership development and community engagement opportunities like IU Corps. Dave is well-prepared to effectively impart an understanding of what it means for students to be a productive part of a diverse community of scholars full of many voices, beliefs and experiences."
O'Guinn worked with both the Indiana Memorial Union and the IU Career Development Center while earning his master's at IU.
According to the release, he has previously served as the assistant director of student activities at Quinnipiac College in Connecticut and was the director of students activities and greek life at Centre College in Kentucky. He was also assistant rector to residence halls and special assistant to the director of Notre Dame's Student Union while in law school.
The dean of students is in charge of 14 departments and more than 150 IU programs and services for the Divison of Student Affairs. The dean also works closely with Residential Programs and Services, Student Central and other faculty and staff to coordinate events and programming.
"I learn as much from our students as they learn from me," O'Guinn said. "I'm looking forward to developing and further strengthening my relationships across campus and leading the division with integrity and a strong passion for our students."
