MTSU is searching for a new Vice President for Student Affairs, and four finalists for the position held presentations at student forums, where students could comment and ask questions to each candidate, this week. Here are the highlights from each one.

Monday: Ronald Briggs Jr.

Ronald Briggs’s presentation kicked off the week of presentations. Briggs is currently working as the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Kennesaw State University.

Briggs said that his experiences working part-time jobs throughout his senior year and being introduced to students like him shaped his life. 

“I learned through those experiences that other students had a very similar experience as I did,” Briggs said. “Either they were the only ones in the classroom who looked like them, or they just didn’t feel like there was a connection, and I wanted to make sure students had that connection.” 

Briggs has worked at several universities, including his alma mater, Arizona State University. At each place, he works to ensure students feel connected to one another and to the faculty. 

Briggs touched on several topics during his meeting, including how involved the Student Government Association would be in campus politics and how he always aims to communicate with SGA.

“In my work with student government, I tend to always want to tap them to get their perspective on things,” Briggs said.

The candidate made it clear that he is not here to run over policies already in place, but to learn the campus and student body before introducing new initiatives. His ideas were well-received by SGA senator Ally Pricer. 

“He had a lot of good ideas that he wanted to implement on MTSU’s campus, and he also was able to speak from a lot of experience in his post roles,” Pricer said. 

During his time with students at the open forum, Briggs offered a clear vision of community, understanding and engagement. Tucker Young

Tuesday: James Bridgeforth

James Bridgeforth, the assistant vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech, met with students on Tuesday, speaking about connecting with students, being visible and solving conflicts.

Bridgeforth feels he has a connection with students, and he wants to help them achieve their dreams. 

“One of the things that really connects with me is that I’m like many of you,” Bridgeforth said. “I was a student, trying to find my way, working jobs, first generation, and to me, my life’s mission is to make sure we help students achieve their dreams.” 

Another important aspect when working with students is being available, Bridgeforth said. 

“You’ll have a lot of access to me,” Bridgeforth said. “I’m an open door kind of guy, but it really matters because I think talking with you guys, spending time with you, is really how we create a sense of shared culture.” 

Bridgeforth said that it’s not his job to tell students who’s right and who’s wrong; his job is to initiate conversations.

When students at Virginia Tech had conflicts, Bridgeforth encouraged open conversations and conflict resolution, and worked with the Constructive Dialogue Institute at Virginia Tech to teach students constructive communication and problem-solving. 

“I think what we need to do is help students understand, just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean you have to shut it down,” Bridgeforth said. “You should listen.”

Ultimately, Bridgeforth aims to make the campus a home, both for him and for students.

“I’m not looking at this job as a stepping stone,” Bridgeforth said. “I’m not coming here to go somewhere else. I’m not going to be here for two, three years, 
I’m coming here to be at home. So my intention is to make this institution, this community home for the long term.” Olivia Summers

Wednesday: Aileen Dowell

Aileen Dowell, associate vice president and dean of students at Georgia Southern University, met with students on Wednesday, emphasizing belonging, accessibility and shared governance.

Dowell, who oversees student conduct, the student union and new student programs across four campuses serving 30,000 students, said visibility is central to her leadership style. 

“I travel between campuses … because I want my students to be seen,” Dowell said. “I’m coming to move in. I’m coming to the concerts. … I am at where all the students are at. Do they feel like a number, or do they feel like a person?”

She described SGA as essential to institutional decisions.

“An institution that does not include student government in their decision[s] [has] failed,” Dowell said. “Y’all are the student voice.”

When improving campus climate, she said that while surveys matter, direct conversations matter more. 

“If I hear a student say they don’t feel like they belong, that’s a problem,” Dowell said. “We in student affairs help our students belong.”

Addressing concerns about international students and shifting policies, Dowell stressed transparency and care. 

“Despite whatever may be happening politically, … this is where you belong,” Dowell said. “If I can take your tuition dollars, then my duty is to make sure that you’re feeling safe.”

Dowell said her first year would focus on listening rather than sweeping changes. 

“My intent is to come in and listen,” she said. “At the end of the day, my job is to make sure that you all are successful and we get you to the stage.”

Dowell hopes students would say she fostered “a culture of care” and that “she gets it done.” 

“We’ve had two people before you,” Gavin Palmer, a student ambassador and SGA senator, said. “As a student, I love you already.” Jesse Jones

Thursday: Del Beatty

Del Beatty, the current vice president of student affairs at Utah Tech University, focused on student advocacy, resources and conflict resolution.  

Beatty has served at Utah Tech since 2008, starting as the Dean of Students and moving up to his current role. The key aspect of the role is to be the loudest advocate for student voices, Beatty said.  

“I would say that being that I advocate for is that the student’s voice should be the loudest voice at the table,” Beatty said. “… Everyone has input, and everyone’s input needs to be listened to, cared for and considered in making the decision.”  

Beatty started the Utah Dean of Students to create statewide initiatives across different universities based on mental health on college campuses.  

In the early 2010s, Beatty combined the counseling center and medical clinic at Utah Tech to provide students with integrated care to address mental and physical health on campus.  

Beatty pledged to attend as many student events as possible if hired, which goes back to his early days in education.  

The LGBTQ club extended an invitation to a karaoke night event in the first year at Tech, which ended up growing the club because people saw the Dean of Students there supporting them, Beatty said.  

“I invited some of my other staff members to come and they were like ‘look at you all dressed up professional,” Beatty said. “’What if there is some picture of you with the students at this event?’ Isn’t that a good thing?”   

Beatty said his first step on campus would be to visit with the department to make sure Student Affairs is all aligned to “row the same boat,” with the end goal of the best decision for students.  Jacob Burgess

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