Montgomery College appointed Dr. Gwendolyn Dungy as the Senior Vice President for Student Services according to college officials. Dungy will be temporarily taking over the position until a permanent candidate is found.

According to the Chief of Strategy, Dr. Stephen Cain, Dungy was chosen to fill the position after the previous Senior V.P., Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, was appointed as President of Mott Community College in Michigan.

“It is not uncommon to appoint an interim leader in a major leadership role when a transition occurs, especially if the timing of the person’s departure does not allow for a search process for a permanent person to be conducted,” said Cain.

According to Cain, Dungy is a well-known national figure in student services. She served in NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, as executive director for seven years. She has also served as a senior administrator at the County College of Morris, Montgomery College, and Catonsville Community College.

In her time as Senior V.P., Dungy plans to move forward with what Walker has started in terms of student services, “If we are attempting an intervention to support students and find that we cannot reach students, we will find other ways to reach our goals. My job is not to change the direction of the strategic plans that are already in place,” Dungy said.

Student Services spreads out to several departments, including the Athletic Department, the Career and Student Employment Services, and Disability Support Services. Dungy hopes to move the department of Student Services closer to the goals brought by the College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act.

“It’s as if we are in a race to find the most effective ways to support students in attaining their goals, and I was hired to take the baton handed over from Dr. Walker-Griffea and keep running with the program until I can pass the baton to the new senior vice president for Student Services,” said Dungy.

According to Cain, the Common Student Experience is also a focus in the Student Services department. This program will also be continued by Dungy during her time in this position.

“Central to these efforts is the Common Student Experience, which is the foundation of the work in Student Services and includes emphases on student access, student engagement, and student success,” said Cain.

A permanent Senior V.P. to take Dungy’s place is expected to be selected by July of 2015. Cain is confident that he and his team will find the right candidate by that time. “We will work very hard to find an excellent new senior vice president for student services and have that person in place by next July.  I am confident that we will be successful,” said Cain.