A message from Dr. Patricia A. Whitely, Vice President for Student Affairs:
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Renee Dickens Callan as Executive Director of Student Life, effective June 1, 2019. Thank you to Dr. Craig Ullom for serving as the Interim Executive Director for the last academic year. Dr. Ullom’s last day in this role is May 31.
During Dr. Callan’s 25 years at the University of Miami, she held numerous positions including Director of Multicultural Student Affairs for the past 13 years, Director of Student Activities and Leadership, and Director of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement.
In her current position, Dr. Callan was responsible for the Black Students Success Series, Life Skills Leadership Program, the Horizon Pre-Orientation Program, and was the founder of the highly successful Students of Color Symposium that just completed its second year. She advised 26 cultural student organizations and planned a multitude of student engagement events through MSA that focused on culture, pre-professional interests, identity, Greek life, and service.
In addition, she co-created the peer-education Diversity Equity Education Program (DEEP) in which she designed curriculum and trained and supervised students to facilitate workshops on race and ethnicity. Dr. Callan also co-developed the pilot intergroup dialogue course this past fall. During the 2018 – 2019 academic year, Dr. Callan supervised our LGBTQ Student Center and led the search to appoint Dr. Gisela Vega, the center’s new Director.
Dr. Callan has received several prominent awards from the University including the 2017 Yellow Rose Society Legends Award, the 2018 May Brunson Award from the UM Women’s Commission, and has been a recipient twice of the AGLO Apple Polishing Administrator-of-the-Year Award in 1999 and 2009.
Dr. Callan received her Ed.D. in higher education from the University of Miami in 2018, her Master’s Degree in higher education from the University of Vermont, and her Bachelor’s Degree in English and political science from St. Michael’s College.
I also want to thank the selection committee, particularly its chair, Dr. Rene Monteagudo, for their dedication throughout the search process.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Callan as she extends her commitment to the University of Miami in her new position. Dr. Callan will no doubt be a committed and collaborative partner with students, staff, and faculty across our campus. I am confident that her experience and leadership will continue to enhance our student life experience at the University.
