Lori Lander, assistant vice chancellor for campus life and associate dean of students, has been elected director of NASPA Region IV-West.
NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) is a professional association for student affairs practitioners. Region IV-West encompasses the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Lander started working at the U of A in November 2014 in her current position as assistant vice chancellor and associate dean of students. She has oversight of campus life areas, which includes the Center for Community Engagement, Student Activities, New Student and Family Programs and more.
She has worked much of her student affairs career from a residence hall coordinator at Kansas State University in 1994 to director of residence life and academic initiatives at the University of Oregon from 2011-2014.
Lander’s Region IV-W term as director begins April 1 during the NASPA National Conference in Boston. She will serve as regional director elect for one year, then two years as regional director and then one year as past regional director. All these positions are part of the NASPA National Board of Directors.
“I have had the opportunity to serve IV-West in many ways – knowledge communities, conference presenter, conference committees, corporate sponsor liaison co-chair, case study co-chair and most recently as financial coordinator,” Lander said. “At the national level, I have served as a national conference volunteer chair, on the Center for Women board and the 365-mentor program chair.”
“I am so very grateful for all the lifelong friendships and opportunities that have transformed me into the student affairs practitioner I am. I would not be the professional I am today without NASPA Region IV-West,” Lander said. “I owe so much to this region and the amazing people in it. I want to continue to give back and will bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm in doing so.”
“Lori Lander is a passionate and dedicated student affairs professional. She is determined to provide the best experience possible for our students,” said Jeremy Battjes, vice chancellor for student affairs. “Lori’s co-leadership role on the U of A belonging initiative exemplifies her service to students and the profession. She will be a tremendous leader for NASPA Region IV-West. I am extremely proud that she will be representing the University of Arkansas and the Division of Students Affairs.”
Lander has a Ph.D. in education and human resource studies from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, an M.ED. in higher education administration from the U of A and a B.S. in liberal arts and economics from Lyon College in Batesville.
Lander has served as NASPA IV-West coordinator of finances, 2019-2022; Arkansas Student Affairs Association executive board member, 2016-2019; NASPA Center for Women – outreach committee, 2016-2017; board 2017-2020; NASPA Community Conversations mentor, 2016-2017; CC365 chair 2017-18; and executive committee member, Association of Intermountain Housing Officers treasurer, 2010-2012.
A version of this story previously appeared in Arkansas News.