Dear colleagues,
I hope the semester is going well for you. I sure feel the rush and energy of the spring semester. I am writing today with an important update that brings with it some mixed emotions.
After nearly 13 years of service to UMD and a very successful career in student affairs, Dr. Lisa Erwin, our vice chancellor for student life and dean of students, has informed me of her intent to retire this coming July. Lisa is a passionate, dedicated, tenacious, and steadfast leader for this campus. She is a respected leader across the U of M System and an extremely valued member of my leadership team. In 2022, her work was recognized by receiving the U of M System President’s Award for Outstanding Service.
She has earned respect and accolades within her field and with colleagues across the nation. Lisa earned two distinguished awards from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators with the NASPA Pillar of the Profession in 2016 and the
Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean in 2021.
Lisa continuously thinks about students and student outcomes. She has mentored and impacted many students over her time here at UMD and in her previous work before coming to UMD. She embodies student success in everything she does. Under her leadership, UMD launched the Student Life Wellbeing Initiative which connected Student Life programming across all areas to support student mental health and overall wellbeing. Lisa also worked with colleagues on the physical facility transformation of student-centered spaces including, the Ven Den, Superior Dining, Kirby Student Center, Richard Haney Multipurpose Rink, and the transportation hub. Her impact, thoughtful planning, strategic vision, and genuine care for our students will be felt for years.
Please join me in congratulating Lisa on her career, her incredible impacts to this campus, the U of M system, as well as our students. Congratulations to Lisa on her well-deserved retirement!
I will provide future updates on the leadership transition as they take shape over the semester.
