Summary
Dr. Heather Speed began her appointment as the Vice President of Student Affairs at the 推荐杏吧原创 on Aug. 1, 2024.
With more than 20 years of Student Affairs experience in higher education, Dr. Speed brings a proven track record of success to her role as the University’s senior administrator for a multitude of services and resources for students. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, Dr. Speed collaborates closely with several units on campus to transform the student experience and success outcomes.
The Division of Student Services under Dr. Speed’s leadership includes the Dean of Students Office; Residential Life, Housing and Food Services; First-Generation Student Center; The Multicultural Center; Disability Resource Center; Counseling Services; Center for Student Engagement and ASUN; Student Persistence Research; the Joe Crowley Student Union; Fitness and Recreational Sports.
Throughout her career in higher education and at the University, she has consistently provided leadership and a vision for students at the institution that stresses space for all voices, opportunities for all personalities and learning styles to succeed, and for all individuals to feel welcome and heard. Her appointment was hailed as ushering in a “new era” for Student Affairs at the 推荐杏吧原创.
Dr. Speed jointed the University after serving as Vice President for Student Success at Pueblo Community College in Pueblo, Colorado, from 2017-2024. Her tenure at Pueblo Community College included multi-campus strategic planning student affairs initiatives that helped to re-imagine key areas of the student experience that included growth in retention, financial stability and collaborative relationship-building. This included the development of numerous wraparound support services for her institution’s underrepresented and first-generation student population which led to increased persistence and graduation rates. In addition, her leadership further bolstered Pueblo’s standing as a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a designation the institution has held for more than 30 years.
Prior to her work at Pueblo Community College, Dr. Speed served from 1998-2016 in several leadership positions at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. Texas Woman’s University consists of a student body of about 15,000 students located at three campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston, Texas. Her positions there included Dean of Students, Associate Vice President for Student Services and Senior Associate Vice President for Student Engagement.
Dr. Speed received her undergraduate degree from Sam Houston University, her master’s degree from North Texas University and her doctorate from North Texas University.