Thomas V. Wolfe has been appointed senior vice president and dean of student affairs
at Syracuse University following a recommendation by Chancellor and President
Nancy Cantor and approval by the executive committee of SU's Board of Trustees.
His appointment is effective immediately.
Formerly the dean of Hendricks Chapel, Wolfe had served as interim senior vice
president and dean of student affairs since early June, when Barry L. Wells stepped
down to assume a new role with the University.
"During his time here at SU, Tom has developed a strong understanding of our
student culture through his work with students and his interactions with Student
Affairs," Cantor says. "This past summer, in guiding the division through the
completion of a self-study and organizational realignment, he gained an
extraordinary in-depth knowledge of each department and earned the respect and
confidence of the Student Affairs staff. I can think of no one more qualified or better
prepared for this position."
As dean of Hendricks Chapel, Wolfe was widely respected as a collaborative leader
and skilled facilitator. He brought this same approach to the Division of Student
Affairs this past summer, leading DSA staff through an in-depth self-study and
creating a new structural model in keeping with national best practices in student
affairs, but tailored to fit the unique needs and culture of SU. Three working
portfolios were created-Health and Wellness; Student Learning; and Inclusion,
Community and Citizenship-with an associate vice president leading each and
reporting to Wolfe.
"This new structure, and the emerging partnerships it makes possible, ensure that the
Division of Student Affairs places the highest priority on student-oriented programs
and services," Wolfe said in late August in announcing the realignment. "These
groupings of offices tell the world what we are about. They are designed to be
attractive to students and transparent for the community to see and understand."
"Dr. Wolfe's recent performance as interim senior vice president and dean of student
affairs has been remarkable," says SU Board of Trustees Chairman John H. Chapple
'75. "The work he has already accomplished in just the last few months is a testament
to his knowledge of the University and its constituents, and his highly effective and
strongly collaborative leadership style. His rapport with and understanding of
students is unparalleled, and the division, its staff and the entire student body
couldn't be in better hands. The members of the executive committee of the Board
join me wholeheartedly in applauding this appointment."
Trustee H. John Riley '61, a member of the executive committee and chairman of the
Student Affairs committee, concurs: "In my contacts with Dr. Wolfe over the last four
months, it has become clear that his past experience and, of equal importance, his
forthright and participative management style, make him an ideal choice to lead the
University's Student Affairs division."
Wolfe's experience at SU spans 18 years. He had been dean of Hendricks Chapel
from January 1999 through June 2008, when he was named to his interim
appointment in Student Affairs. While at the chapel, in addition to his administrative
responsibilities, he facilitated countless University-wide forums and committees, and
interacted with numerous students, faculty and staff, including as chair of the
University's Wellness Task Force, co-chair of the Critical Incident Response Team and
co-chair of Chancellor Cantor's inaugural steering committee in 2004-05.
He helped escort the Hendricks Chapel Choir on a two-week performance tour of
China in May 2005 and led 18 students on an interfaith study trip to Turkey in
March 2007. Each summer, he co-teaches the graduate course "Critical Incident
Management in Higher Education" through SU's School of Education.
Before becoming dean, Wolfe served as the interdenominational Protestant chaplain
at SU. Prior to that, he was pastor of United Methodist parishes in Moravia and
Ithaca, N.Y.
Among his civic interests, Wolfe is the former president and a current board member
of InterFaith Works of CNY. He chaired the 2008 White Ribbon Campaign for Vera
House and served two terms on the Vera House board, and was board president in
2006. He remains involved in a variety of community initiatives that bring diverse
people together to address common concerns.
He holds a bachelor's degree from Lycoming College, a master of divinity degree
from Pacific School of Religion and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from
SU. He is an ordained elder with the North Central New York Conference of the
United Methodist Church.
Wolfe and his wife, the Rev. Marilyn N. Wolfe, formerly senior pastor of University
United Methodist Church in Syracuse and currently a full-time student in the
M.S.W. program in the College of Human Ecology, live in Syracuse.
