Jon Shaffer Named Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Housing

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Jon Shaffer, Southern Illinois University's director of housing, will assume the role of assistant vice chancellor for university housing on May 15. 

Since 2012, Shaffer has led university housing at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He leads more than 500 full- and part-time staff members and a 5,000-bed housing operation that includes traditional residence halls, apartments and dining facilities. 

"I am very pleased to be joining the University of Arkansas during this time of growth," he said. "Recent enrollment increases present exciting challenges and I look forward to leading the University Housing team in capitalizing on these opportunities now and into the future." 

Shaffer is from Michigan and attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette where he majored in psychology and sociology. At NMU, he served two years as a resident assistant and held leadership roles including founding father of the Theta Iota Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon and as a teaching, research and laboratory assistant in the psychology department.  

He earned a Master of Education in counseling and student personnel administration from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., where he served as a hall director and coordinator of the first-year experience program.  

Shaffer earned his Doctor of Philosophy in higher education leadership from Western Michigan University. The title of Jon's dissertation, "The Role of Residence Hall Staff in Offering Early Warning Academic Intervention" illustrates research and experience from throughout his career. 

A cross-campus search committee spent four months evaluating candidates and holding meetings with various stakeholders. 

 "This was a competitive search, and I am grateful for the work of the search committee," said Jeremy Battjes, vice chancellor for student affairs. "Jon has over twenty years of experience in university housing, and demonstrated experience developing housing master plans, leading an exploration of public private partnerships, developing student engagement hubs, overseeing a $45 million-dollar budget and hundreds of employees, and an ability to craft a vision for a housing department." 

Florence "Flo" Johnson retired as housing's assistant vice chancellor in July 2022; Takama Statton-Brooks has been serving as interim since. Statton-Brooks will resume her role as director of residence education in university housing. 

Search Committee Members 

• Quincy Spencer (chair), director of New Student & Family Programs 
• Jeremy Burns, associate dean for communications, Enrollment Services 
• Chris Frala, budget director, Finance & Administration 
• Clayton Hamilton, deputy athletics director and chief financial officer, Razorback Athletics 
• Erika Gamboa, director of the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Center 
• Jordan Frederking, assistant director for Greek Managed Housing 
• Alisha Gilbride, interim director of residence education, University Housing 
• Danette Horne, associate director, Counseling & Psychological Services 
• Lori Lander, associate dean of students/assistant vice chancellor of campus life 
• Paul Soulsby, senioor director of business and technology, University Housing 

About University Housing: University Housing is a department within the Division of Student Affairs serving a residential community of around 6,200 on-campus students and 1,000 off-campus students. More than 200 students find employment opportunities with University Housing each year. We offer educational programs that support the success of students and services that help students focus on academics at the University of Arkansas.