Jim Williams Assumes New Position

“Serving Our Students with Pride” is the slogan that adorns the back of Jim Williams’ business card. That is exactly what students, faculty and staff can find Williams doing on a daily basis, serving his students with pride.

Williams is currently playing a double role at ESU. On June 1, Williams put on another hat and began the position as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. He still assumes the role as Director of Residential of Life, which he has served in since 1999.

“While Jim will continue to exercise primary responsibility for Residence Life and will assume responsibility for judicial affairs, he will assist me in broad leadership of the division focusing on retention and increasing our ability to respond to students,” said Dr. Jim Hirsh, Vice President for Student Affairs.

This newly created position came as a result of the merging of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

“With the merger of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, the need for coordination and integration increased. I was looking for someone who could work with me in providing leadership and moving innovation forward and working to integrate the offices in the new division,” said Dr. Hirsh.

Residential life, Judicial affairs, non-traditional student programs, parents association, and retention issues are some of the areas Williams are responsible for in his new position. He will also serve in the absence of the Vice President when needed.

“We are trying to expand the offerings we offer our students. The adjustment aspects and the overall assistance we can provide the students that are here is what our aim is,” said Williams. “It’s another person that the students can work with directly from an administrative stand point.”

Williams has several goals outlined for this position.

“Our general goal is to increase what we can do to assist the student populations and increase what we can do to assist students,” said Williams. “Another goal is having a concentrated effort on building collaboration amongst the university community. I think the overall role of student affairs as a profession is to assist in the academic mission of the institution.”

“Jim has shown outstanding leadership ability, connects well with students, has great insight into current issues in Student Affairs and has the respect of students, faculty and staff across the university,” said Dr. Hirsh.

Williams grew up in New England, and is a native of Connecticut. He received his Bachelor of Science from Keene State College in Keene New Hampshire. He earned a Master of Education Administration from South Dakota State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and is currently finishing his Ph.D at the University of Kansas.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>