Vicki Vanderwerf Hired as Associate Director of Residence Life

Vicki Vanderwerf has been hired as associate director of WWU Residence Life, said Leonard Jones, director of University Residences.

“With extreme pleasure, I wish to announce Vicki Vanderwerf will join the University Residences team as the new associate director of Residence Life,” Jones said.

Vanderwerf, who was hired following a national search, will begin her duties on Aug. 13.  

Vanderwerf has a master’s degree in College and Agency Counseling – Student Affairs Professional Practice from State University of New York at Plattsburgh, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from State University of New York at Oswego.

She most recently served as assistant director of Residence Life at the University of Colorado Boulder, which has a campus housing population of over 7,000 students. She began her higher education student housing career in June 2009 as interim director of Residence Life at Clinton Community College (New York). She then served as hall director at the University of Colorado Boulder in July 2010, later becoming an area director in 2012 and in 2015 an assistant director.

 “I am looking forward to serving Western students with passion for involvement, inclusion, advocacy and a great education. I am excited for the opportunity to get to know and work with colleagues within University Residences and across campus to continue the great work in creating new ways to enhance student success at Western,” Vanderwerf said.

Jones thanked Kurt Willis, Holly Diaz, Scott Leppla and the entire Residence Life team. “All have readily and without complaint, assumed new duties and responsibilities of the associate director – Residence Life position that, coupled with their regular day jobs, was instrumental in keeping Residence Life afloat.” Jones said. “Their willingness to keep Residence Life proficient and singularly focused efficiently servicing campus residential students was amazing. We are all so honored and proud to have such dedicated professionals on our team.”

 Jones also thanked search committee members Joanne DeMark, Terence Symonds, Steven VanderStaay, Tomoko Matsui, Annie Gordon, Brendan O’Neill and Cara Story for their hard work and dedication.