Connie Tingson Gatuz, currently vice president for student affairs and mission integration at Madonna University, has been appointed associate vice president for student life at the University of Michigan.
Tingson Gatuz
She will join the Student Life leadership team March 14. Her appointment was approved Feb. 17 by the Board of Regents.
In this role, Tingson Gatuz will oversee a large portfolio of student life units and partnerships including the University Career Center, Ginsberg Center, International Center, Office of Student Conflict Resolution, the Program on Intergroup Relations, Spectrum Center, Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, and Trotter Multicultural Center. She also will serve on the cabinet of senior leaders reporting to the vice president for student life.
She will be responsible for providing leadership and vision for the student experience, while cultivating academic partnerships; student development, leadership, and personal development; education for social change; community and civic engagement; and intervention, support and advocacy.
“Dr. Tingson Gatuz brings an accomplished background in facilitating academic and administrative partnerships and this is the foundation of student success and an enriching student experience overall,” said Martino Harmon, vice president for student life.
“By reimagining this portfolio of units and welcoming Dr. Tingson Gatuz into our senior leadership, we will be able to find new ways to serve U-M students and give them the tools they need to bring about social change.”
Tingson Gatuz has served as vice president for student affairs and mission integration and as an adjunct assistant professor at Madonna University in Livonia for more than a decade. At Madonna, she co-developed a master’s degree program in higher education administration that prepares graduate students for future administrative careers in colleges and universities.
A national Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute Fellow and National OCA Pioneer Community Educator Awardee, Tingson Gatuz has dedicated her career to educating and developing people in organizations for over two decades.
Driven by a passion for developing community leaders, “Dr. Connie” has developed curriculum for a national college leadership program.
She currently serves as a board member of the Michigan American Council on Education Women’s Network, and, as one of the founding members of the Midwest Asian American Student Union, Michigan State University’s Philippine American Student Society, and the Council of Racial Ethnic Students, she has orchestrated community partnerships across numerous college student organizations locally, regionally and nationally.
Tingson Gatuz earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from MSU.
The appointment of Tingson Gatuz follows the retirement of Simone Himbeault Taylor, who retired from the role in September 2021 after also serving as interim vice president for student life, following the retirement of E. Royster Harper. Jennifer Meyer Schrage, senior adviser to the vice president, has served as interim associate vice president since Taylor’s retirement.
