The Vice President of Student Affairs, Raymond Lu-Ming Ou, will be stepping down from his position at the end of June 2022, according to an email sent to community members by university President Ron Liebowitz.
Ou joined the university as Vice President of Student Affairs in fall 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the email. During his time, he contributed towards many of the university’s, “most critical student-facing departments in providing comprehensive support of students both on and off-campus throughout this difficult time,” wrote Liebowitz.
In this position, Ou became, “the liaison to the new Student Life Committee on the Board of Trustees, working with stakeholders on addressing critical issues including student mental health, Title IX in athletics, crisis management, student programming, and career advising,” according to the email. In his work he discussed with student leaders on issues regarding student life on campus. He also helped implement and create, “a contemporary divisional leadership model and launched a comprehensive strategic planning process aligned with best practices in the field,” wrote Liebowitz. According to Liebowitz, it is because of Ou’s work that the university’s Division of Student Affairs is “stronger” due to his “innovations and efforts”.
According to the email, while Ou has “loved his work here and has enjoyed getting to know so many students, faculty, staff, and alumni during his time at Brandeis,” he decided to make the decision to leave to finish his doctoral dissertation. Ou, according to the email, received an upcoming deadline during the summer for the dissertation and wanted to focus his efforts towards it.
“Raymond developed a stable, capable senior leadership team in Student Affairs during his tenure,” wrote Liebowitz.
To fill the position of Interim Vice President of Student Affairs—Andrea Dine will be taking the role. Dine is currently working as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and will be taking over as Interim Vice President of Student Affairs beginning on July 1. Liebowitz wrote in his email that he is, “confident that Student Affairs will be very well led under the leadership of Andrea [Dine].” Taking over Dine’s former role will be Shelby Harris who currently serves as the university’s Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Campus Life.
Community members will be further updated once a permanent Vice President of Student Affairs is selected.
Liebowitz asked community members to join him in wishing Ou luck in his future endeavors
