NEW STUDENT AFFAIRS VICE CHANCELLOR NAMED

by David Baugher

An administrator from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been named the new vice chancellor for Student Affairs at UM-St. Louis.

G. Gary Grace will replace interim vice chancellor Karl Beeler on Oct. 13. Beeler took over the vice chancellor's role last spring after the resignation of Lowe "Sandy" MacLean. Jim Krueger, vice chancellor of Managerial and Technological Services and chair of the search committee, described Grace as a "very articulate" and "outstanding individual with very strong experience in student affairs" who believes in Chancellor Blanche Touhill's goal of building "a community of students, a community of learners."

"Gary understands her vision and has some very definite plans of how to move forward toward that vision," Krueger said.

The 13-member search committee chose Grace as one of six finalists submitted to the chancellor in June.

Grace said he was looking forward to working with the chancellor when he assumes his position next month.

"I was quite impressed with her commitment to the students," Grace said. "That became very clear in the interactions we had that she wanted the institution to be responsive to the students."

Grace said that he saw his job as a "two-way role."

"It's a position that's an advocate for students' needs," Grace said. "It's a position that has a role of interpreting the University's direction for students so that they can be understanding and supportive of where the institution is headed."

Grace also said his main goal would be to reflect diversity in providing student services.

"The activities and services that are the responsibility of Student Affairs need to represent that diversity, be responsive to that diversity."

Grace has held various administrative positions at Illinois Wesleyan University, Florida State University and Miami University. Since 1986, he has served as assistant chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Grace holds a bachelor's in Mathematics and a master's in Psychology from Illinois State University and a doctorate in higher education from Florida State University.