Dr. Nina Caldwell named Vice President
8/31/07
ST. LOUIS — Symbolizing the significance that he places on the role of student life in a student’s overall college experience, Maryville University Mark Lombardi, Ph.D., has made the University’s Student Life division a separate division and has elevated Nina Caldwell, Ed.D., formerly Maryville’s dean of student life, to the level of vice president for student life and dean of students. As is the case with the University’s four other vice presidents, Caldwell will report directly to Dr. Lombardi.
Caldwell said she was pleased and surprised when Dr. Lombardi informed her of his decision. “Dr. Lombardi and I agree that a student’s co-curricular activities will help shape and define who a student is and who they will become,” she remarked. At this point, Caldwell said, there are no other planned changes to her division’s organizational structure. “Like everyone on campus, Student Life is currently completing its Job Analysis Questionnaire provided by Human Resources,” she commented. “When that process is completed, we’ll analyze the situation to see if any other changes would help better serve students.”
Caldwell noted that in informing her of her promotion, President Lombardi was quick to laud the past efforts of her division. “He commended the staff for the work they’ve done. He said it’s obvious how passionate they are about their work.” Caldwell said Dr. Lombardi has high hopes and expectations for her division, as he alluded to in his Convocation remarks. “Certainly two of our top priorities will be increasing our resident student population and strategically enhancing our athletics program,” she remarked.
Caldwell had served as dean of Student Life since joining Maryville in 2004. Attaining the level of vice president fulfills one of her career goals. “I wasn’t sure if it would happen while I was at Maryville but I’m very happy and honored that it has.” Prior to joining Maryville, Caldwell had worked for several years in the student services area of higher education, primarily in California. Originally from central Illinois, Caldwell began thinking of a career in higher education, and specifically student life, while she was a graduate student at Illinois State University, pursuing a master’s degree in counseling. She received a graduate assistantship in ISU’s Residential Life Office.
Caldwell holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Dillard University in New Orleans, a master’s degree in counseling from Illinois State and her doctorate of education in organization and leadership in education from the University of San Francisco. She also earned a MBA at Maryville.
Maryville University, founded in 1872, is a private, coeducational institution offering approximately 50 undergraduate, seven master’s and two doctoral degree programs to 3,300 students. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges in the Midwest, Maryville University prepares its students for successful and meaningful careers by offering programs that integrate liberal arts with professional studies.
Among Maryville’s most recent graduates, 94 percent are employed or attending graduate school. Approximately 15,000 alumni work and live in the St. Louis region.