Student Affairs Presents Three Leaders Through Three Decades: A Panel Discussion by Chief Student Affairs Officers

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From left; Johnetta Cross Brazzell, Lyle Gohn, and Danny Pugh

The University of Arkansas Division of Student Affairs has been shaped by three exceptional leaders over the last 30 years. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, those three former chief student affairs officers will come together on a panel to discuss their tenure, the evolution of the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas, and the transformation of the overall higher education landscape.

Charles Robinson, current interim vice provost for student affairs, will introduce the distinguished panel of Lyle Gohn, Johnetta Cross-Brazzell and Daniel Pugh. There will be opportunity for questions and dialogue for those interested in the past, present and future of the profession, as well as those with aspirations to become chief student affairs officers. The panel, to be moderated by assistant professor Michael Hevel, will start at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the Arkasnas Union Theater. A reception will follow in the area outside of the Anne Kittrell Gallery.

Gohn was vice chancellor for student services from 1982-1998, when he moved to a full-time faculty position. Brazzell started her time as vice chancellor in 1999, retiring in 2009. Danny Pugh, who was dean of students under Brazzell, was named vice provost for student affairs in 2009. Pugh was in the position until July of this year when he left to take the chief student affairs position at Texas A&M.

Some things these leaders have had in common are their passion for students and drive to create an excellent student experience at the University of Arkansas.

LYLE GOHN

"During my time as chancellor from 1985-1997, Lyle worked with me on a daily basis as vice chancellor for student services," said Dan Ferritor, current interim chancellor. "I was most impressed with his ability to work with the vice chancellor for academic affairs so that student services and academic affairs always walked hand in hand with the goal of helping and supporting students as they studied at the University of Arkansas. One of the projects I was most impressed with was his advocacy for increasing scholarship support for students."

Gohn began his higher education career in student services administration, serving in a variety of assistantships while working on his advanced degrees at Purdue University. He served as director of student activities at Southern Illinois, Carbondale, then moved to Wichita State University as the assistant dean of students (later was promoted to associate dean and dean). He then became the chief student affairs officer at Montana State University and taught in the higher education program.

In 1982, he was selected as the vice chancellor for student services and associate professor at the University of Arkansas. In 1998, he moved to a full-time faculty position in the higher education program with an emphasis in college student personnel. He served as the coordinator of the master's program until 2006. Gohn has served as national president and chair of two major professional organizations (NASPA and NODA), held other state and regional leadership positions and in 1998 was named the "Outstanding Dean" in the Student Affairs profession by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Gohn was principal author of NASPA's e-book, Understanding College Student Subpopulations: A Guide for Student Affairs Professionals, published in 2006.

JOHNETTA CROSS BRAZZELL

Johnetta Cross Brazzell came to the University of Arkansas in 1999, with expertise in both the classroom and in student affairs. She joined Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1993, where she held the position of vice president for student affairs and also served as a member of the college faculty.

"When we developed the vision statement of being a nationally competitive, student-centered, research university serving Arkansas and the world, it was Johnetta who inserted the words, student-centered. Everything about her was student centered," said John White, the chancellor who hired Brazzell. "Everything she touched, from food service to Greek life to ASG to multicultural activities, to you name it, blossomed under her leadership. In my book, she was the most effective student affairs leader in the nation."

Brazzell's work also touched the local and national community. She has held positions on several boards and organizations including: board member of the Walton Arts Center; advisory board member, NASPA National Academy for Leadership and Executive Effectiveness, 2000 to present; board member, LeaderShape Inc., current; institute member, Project on the Future of Higher Education, 2001-2004; member, Board of Trustees of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 2000-2006.

Brazzell holds a doctorate in higher and adult continuing education from the University of Michigan; a master's degree in American history with emphasis on the African American experience from the University of Chicago; and, a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Spelman College. She is now retired in Atlanta, but still mentors students from Spelman.

DANIEL J. PUGH SR.

Danny Pugh was the most recent vice provost for student affairs, and for a few years he held the dual role of vice provost and dean of students.

"In my time as chancellor, we prided ourselves on our Students First philosophy, but we wouldn't have accomplished much without our point man in Student Affairs, Danny Pugh, setting the tone and making things happen," said G. David Gearhart, chancellor during Pugh's tenure as vice provost. "He was the difference between good intentions and actual initiatives — producing demonstrable proof of our commitment to serving students."

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Pugh earned a Bachelor of Science in communication and Master of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He earned a doctorate in higher education from the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.

Prior to arriving at the University of Arkansas, Pugh served as dean of students and associate vice president for student life at Eastern Washington University from 2000 to 2005. He also has held positions as director of judicial programs at the University of Georgia, area coordinator of residence education at Virginia Tech University, and hall director at the University of Tennessee. Pugh came to the U of A in 2005 as the dean of students and was vice provost for student affairs at the University of Arkansas from 2009-2015. Pugh is currently the vice president for student affairs at Texas A&M.

This is the third annual Student Affairs Lecture at the University of Arkansas. Past speakers have been Mark Koepsell, executive director of the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, and Kevin Kruger, president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.