By Sharron Hannon
Richard H. Mullendore, vice chancellor for student life at the University of Mississippi, has been named vice president for student affairs and associate provost at UGA, pending approval by the University System Board of Regents. The appointment was announced in June by Karen Holbrook, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Mullendore succeeds Dwight Douglas, who has served as vice president for student affairs since 1980. Last December, Douglas announced his intention to step down from the vice presidency on June 30, 1999. He will retire on June 30, 2000, after a 35-year career in higher education, the last 24 years at UGA.
Mullendore was one of four finalists identified in a national search conducted by a committee chaired by John Crowley, dean of the School of Environmental Design. All four met with faculty, staff, students and administrators during interviews and public meetings on campus last month. One candidate, Jere Morehead, withdrew from consideration when he accepted the position of associate provost and director of the Honors Program at UGA.
“All of the finalists were very impressive and each brought different strengths,” says Holbrook. “The decision came down to choosing which of the remaining candidates fit best with our needs at this time. Richard Mullendore has a history of being a very student-centered leader who is visible on campus and personally involved with students. He resonated with students, staff and faculty whom he met here.”
President Michael F. Adams commented: “Ole Miss and UGA have been in the habit of sharing good people--most recently when John Shafer went there last year. We are fortunate to have had four very well-qualified candidates for this position. In Richard Mullendore we are getting a person with a strong background in student affairs, who truly believes in making students part of his life. I’m convinced he will be an outstanding vice president.”
Mullendore has been vice chancellor for student life and a professor of educational leadership at the University of Mississippi since 1996. As the chief administrative officer of the Division of Student Life at Ole Miss, he served as the spokesperson for student needs and services, enrollment management and the quality of life and education outside the classroom, with responsibilities for policy, planning, assessment, budget and personnel.
At UGA, Mullendore will head a division that includes student activities and the Tate Student Center, recreational sports and the Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activities, counseling and testing, student financial aid, the university health center, university housing, judicial programs, minority services and programs, and student information systems. Other major programs in student affairs include disability services, student leadership programs and the national student exchange program.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to serve the students, faculty and staff of the University of Georgia,” Mullendore says. “To be selected for this position is a tremendous honor. I’m grateful to President Adams, Dr. Holbrook, the search committee and the many members of the university community who were involved in the selection process. My family and I are looking forward to moving to Athens.”
Before going to Ole Miss, Mullendore served as dean of students and then as associate vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He was also director of student services and athletics at the University of Charleston in West Virginia, and assistant and acting dean of students at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn.
He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Michigan State University and a master of science in higher education with a concentration in college student personnel from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He earned his undergraduate degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
Mullendore has written extensively on student affairs issues and served as co-editor of a 1992 book on Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities of Students. He also edited the 1998 Orientation Planning Manual from the National Orientation Directors Association. He served as president of that group from 1990 to 1992 and has given numerous presentations on orientation issues. He also has been a regular presenter at meetings of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the American College Personnel Association and the National Conference on the First Year Experience.
He will assume his new position at UGA on Aug. 9. Victor Wilson, assistant to the president, was appointed by Holbrook to serve as interim vice president until Mullendore’s arrival. Wilson, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UGA, came to his position in the president’s office with 16 years’ experience in student affairs.
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