News Brief: Nair named Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Ajay Nair, an associate dean from Columbia University, took over on July 1 as the new Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs. He is replacing Therese Conn, who will retire from the University as of Sept. 30.

Nair returns to Penn after serving as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Director and instructor in the Asian American Studies Department at Penn as well as the Director of the Pan-Asian American Community House.

"Penn is uniquely positioned to engage students in opportunities that integrate students' in-class and out-of-class experiences that ultimately will promote a lifelong commitment to citizenship and social justice," Nair said in a University press release. "By providing co-curricular opportunities that help our students grow and develop, we are one step closer to cultivating our future leaders and change agents."

Nair's responsibilities will include serving as the chief deputy to Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, the Vice Provost for University Life. He will also be the chief liaison to school student affairs officers, house deans, the Undergraduate Working Group and Trustees Council of Penn Women, chair the Tangible Change committee and serve as the staff administrator of the Trustee Student Life Committee.

Nair will also be responsible for the ongoing review and updating of student policies and procedures, and have direct administrative oversight for Career Services, Civic House, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, Naval ROTC, the Student Intervention Services team, the Office of Student Life, Student Performing Arts and the Penn Women's Center.

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