Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper has named Susan Eklund as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students for three years, effective July 1, 2006. Eklund was brought out of retirement in August 2004 to serve in the position on an interim basis.
“Eklund brings nearly 30 years of solid student affairs and leadership experience to the division,” Harper wrote in a memo to campus leaders. “We are grateful that she has agreed to remain with the University for this extended period and to continue being of service to our students and the campus community.
“She is a seasoned professional who has been beneficial to the Office of the Dean of Students in maintaining its mission. Her proficiencies and insight have played an important and exemplary role in planning, guiding, management and accountability, particularly around efforts that involved institutional responses to recent catastrophes, including the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.”
Harper credits Eklund for her work to address problems of student hazing and issues of campus climate with regard to hate crimes and bias incidents. Harper says Eklund also is to be commended for her efforts to enhance the relationship of student organizations to the University through the Student Organization and Recognition Advisory Committee (SOAR).
Eklund holds both a bachelor’s degree in political science and a J.D. from U-M. She is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Michigan and Washington, D.C. She served as the U-M Law School assistant dean for student affairs for eight years and associate dean for 15 years. Before retirement in April 2004 Eklund served for five years as the director of user services for Michigan Administrative Information Systems and M-Pathways. Her appointment was approved by the Board of Regents Dec. 15.
