Vice President for Student Affairs
Location: Bell Tower, Rooms 2560, 2565 & 2705
Telephone: (805) 437-8536
Fax: (805) 437-8549
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of the Vice President for Student Affairs office is to recommend policies, guidelines and procedures that will ensure a coordinated delivery and assessment system of student services throughout the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), which includes Enrollment Services, Student Life, Housing & Residential Education, and Associated Students Incorporated.
This Vice President for Student Affairs office ensures a comprehensive clearing system which:
- tracks and reports budgets and expenditures;
- implements, coordinates and/or manages special projects;
- produces and distributes internal and external student communication materials;
- hires, trains and provides staff development;
- provides co-curricular education initiatives; and
- coordinates program assessment and evaluation for all units within the Division.
Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer, founding Vice President for Student Affairs at California State University Channel Islands (CI), earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of North Texas (UNT). Dr. Sawyer began his academic career as a Communication lecturer at Amarillo College in Texas shortly after completing his Master’s degree in Organizational Communication at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU). After two years of teaching and coaching Forensics and Debate at Amarillo College, Dr. Sawyer returned to school to work on his doctoral degree at the University of North Texas (UNT). Upon completion of his Ph.D., Sawyer was appointed Assistant Dean of Students. Dr. Sawyer later served as the Associate Dean and finally, Dean of Students at UNT, where he was also a member of the communication faculty. He served as the Dean of Students and adjunct faculty member at North Texas until he was appointed founding Dean of Students and Chief Student Affairs Officer at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). As the founding Dean, Dr. Sawyer was broadly involved in the strategic planning, development, and operations of Florida’s newest state university.
After six and one-half years at FGCU, Dr. Sawyer accepted the position as the founding Vice President for Student Affairs at CI. Since his arrival at Channel Islands, Dr. Sawyer has dedicated his efforts to hiring, developing, and encouraging a diverse student-centered and student-focused Student Affairs division which fosters an inclusive and collegial learning environment.
In 2004, Sawyer was recognized as the Most Distinguished Black Citizen by the Ventura County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 2005, he was recognized by the students at CI with the Maximus Award, as Outstanding Administrator of the Year. In 2007, Dr. Sawyer was recognized by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) as the Senior Practitioner of the Year. In 2008, Dr. Sawyer was presented the prestigious Wang Family Excellence Award, by Chancellor Reed and the Trustees of the CSU System. Sawyer was selected as the outstanding administrator of the year out of 46,000 faculty and staff in the CSU. In 2012, Sawyer was recognized by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) as the recipient of the Scott Goodnight Award for outstanding performance as a Vice President for Student Affairs. And in 2013, Sawyer was appointed by Governor Brown to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) as the CSU system representative.
Ed Lebioda, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs - Resources and Auxiliaries
Ed Lebioda, associate vice president for Student Affairs - Resources and Auxiliaries, earned his M.S. in Recreation Administration with a minor in exercise physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining CI in 2002, Ed was awarded recognition as a top administrator in his capacity as the Director of Recreation and Leisure Services and Assistant to the Dean at Florida Gulf Coast University, a start-up campus which opened in 1997. In his current role, Ed is primarily responsible for human resources, budget, facilities, and operations within the Division.
Toni Rice, M.B.A., Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Administrative and Strategic Operations
Ms. Rice earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. As the founding Coordinator of Student Orientation in the area of Student Leadership and Community at CSU Channel Islands (CI), Toni was responsible for creating and implementing CI’s first new student orientation in 2002. Toni was also responsible for student activities, clubs and organizations, student leadership, and The Hub (temporary Student Union) while serving as the Founding Advisor of the Student Programming Board. Toni was appointed Interim Director of Student Leadership and Community from 2004 to 2005 and continued to assist with the growth and development of student leadership on campus.
In July 2006, Ms. Rice was appointed to Manager of Budget and Staff Resources in the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) office. In this role, Toni was responsible for staff resources and budget, maintaining the integrity of recruitment, and the hiring process for staff and student assistants within the Division of Student Affairs (DSA). She also assisted with all DSA budget-related issues including workshop development and trainings. In addition, Toni also assisted with various projects such as the formulation of CSU Channel Islands’ first Student Union building. From March 2007 to December 2007, Ms. Rice was asked to serve as the Interim Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
In January of 2008, Toni was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. In this role, Toni was responsible for all staff resources for the Division of Student Affairs. In addition, Toni was responsible for creating and developing collaborative campus relationships to ensure that the programs and services of the VPSA office reflected the Division’s mission and priorities. Toni was also responsible for researching and responding, on behalf of the Vice President, to those issues or concerns which were presented to the Vice President from multiple constituencies, while assisting with the continued and ongoing development of Student Affairs policies and procedures.
In September of 2010, the Special Assistant to the Vice President role transitioned to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. As AVPSA, Toni maintains the Special Assistant responsibilities as well as manages the Vice President’s office on behalf of the VPSA. In assisting the Vice President in this capacity, Toni provides guidance and counsel to the VPSA as well as to area heads within the Division of Student Affairs in strategic planning, organizational initiatives, structure and implementation, and is responsible for facilitating aspects of recent legal, policy, and other compliance issues and complaint resolution. Ms. Rice is pursuing her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Ventura College of Law.
Dottie Ayer, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs
Dottie Ayer, administrative assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), earned a B.A. in Political Science, B.A. in Legal Studies, and minor(s) in Integrative Liberal Studies and Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, in 2006. Dottie joined CSU Channel Islands (CI) and the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) in December 2012. Prior to CI, Dottie worked as a Policy Analyst with the UCLA Academic Senate for five years.
Dottie’s primary responsibilities include performing research and preparing reports and correspondences on behalf of the VPSA, assisting with on-going projects at the request of the VPSA, providing support to the DSA Executive Council, and direct assistance to the VPSA.
Raquel De Los Santos, Coordinator of Special Projects and Programs
Raquel De Los Santos, coordinator of Special Projects and Programs, earned her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Performing Arts at CI in 2012. In 2002, Raquel began working at CI in University Advancement. Prior to that she worked in development and fundraising for over nine years at California Lutheran University and Chaminade College Preparatory in Chatsworth, California. In 2004, Raquel joined Student Affairs as the Administrative Assistant in Budget and Operations. In May 2005, Raquel became the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs, a position she held until 2010.
Raquel coordinates a wide variety of special projects and programs on behalf of the Vice President's office including Grad Fest, the Division's annual Celebration of Excellence, and many student-related programs.
Courtney Ellis, Administrative Assistant for Staff Resources and Fiscal Operations
Courtney Ellis, administrative assistant for Staff Resources and Fiscal Operations, earned her B.A. in Communication at CSU Channel Islands in 2010. While working towards her degree, Courtney was employed at CI in both Housing & Residential Education and the Vice President’s office as a student assistant. After graduating, Courtney continued working in the VPSA office in a temporary capacity and was hired into her current position in August 2010. During the Fall 2010 semester, Courtney served as the first Community Advisor for overflow housing residents living in University Glen.
Dr. Jennifer Miller, Director of Student Affairs Assessment, Research, and Staff Development
Dr. Jennifer Miller is the director of Student Affairs Assessment, Research and Staff Development for the Vice President for Student Affairs office. Miller provides vision, leadership, training, and coordination for the Division of Student Affairs regarding assessment, co-curricular programs and services, and staff development initiatives.
Before arriving at CI, Miller was the founding director of the WELL (Well-being, Empowerment, Life and Learning) office at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). She co-facilitated UCR’s Mental Health/Healthier Campus Climate Initiative that included the Counseling Center, Campus Health Center, Peer Initiatives, Community Service Office, Student Recreation Center, Health Initiatives, Mental Health Outreach Team, and Diversity Initiatives. She previously worked at UCR as a resident director in Housing Services and a Student Development Educator in the AVC/Dean of Students office.
Miller attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology. It was her undergraduate experiences of being a resident advisor, working as an athletic trainer and being involved in various student organizations that sparked her interest in working in Student Affairs. She earned her Master's of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. While at the University of Michigan, she worked as a resident director and a research assistant for the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program. Miller completed her Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis on Higher Education/Student Affairs from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. Her academic interests are related to better serving the needs of traditionally under-represented students at institutions of higher education (specifically related to how multiple identities impact the help-seeking behaviors of college students).
Miller currently serves as a National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASPA) National Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) Board Member.
Amy Powell, Administrative Assistant for Staff Resources
Amy Powell, administrative assistant for Staff Resources, earned her B.A. in psychology at California State University Channel Islands in 2007. While working towards her degree, Amy was employed at CI in Housing and Residential Education as a resident assistant. After graduating, Amy continued working in student housing as an assistant resident director.
In October 2008, Amy started in her position as administrative assistant for the Vice President for Student Affairs office. In March 2010, Amy became the administrative assistant to the vice president. In January 2013, Amy started in her current role as the administrative assistant for Staff Resources. In this role, Amy assists with employee requisitions, recruitment, separation and clearance, directory maintenance, personnel files, etc.
Amy Roemelen, Coordinator of Student Affairs Communication
Amy Roemelen, coordinator of Student Affairs Communication, earned her B.S. in Environmental Science and Resource Management from CI in 2005. While working towards her degree, Amy was employed at CI in the VPSA office as the assessment and communication assistant. After graduating, Amy continued working in the VPSA office until November 2005, at which time she left to pursue a career as an environmental consultant.
In May 2007, Amy returned to the VPSA office as the coordinator of Student Affairs Communication. In this role, Amy coordinates the production of various publications, manages project requests submitted by various areas within the division, maintains divisional Web pages, and assists with other projects as needed.