Dean of students candidates to give presentations

Four candidates vying for the position of vice provost and dean of students will give public presentations on campus.  

They are Brandon Miller, associate vice chancellor for Enrollment Management at University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; Loren Rullman, former associate vice president for Student Life at University of Michigan; Gary Dickstein, interim vice president for Student Affairs at Wright State University; and Marlene Kowalski-Braun, assistant vice president for Inclusion and Student Affairs at Grand Valley State University. 

A search committee composed of students, faculty and staff members worked with a search firm to identify candidates and conduct initial interviews. Following those interviews, the committee identified four candidates to participate in campus-wide interviews. 

The campus community is invited to attend the presentations in the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus. Each candidate will discuss a topic relevant to student services. 

Dates and locations for each event are listed below. 

• Brandon Miller: Friday, March 30, presentation from 1:30-2 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, room 2215. 

• Loren Rullman: Tuesday, April 3, presentation from 1:30-2 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, room 2204.

• Gary Dickstein: Thursday, April 5, presentation from 1:30-2 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, room 2215.

• Marlene Kowalski-Braun: Friday, April 6, presentation from 1:30-2 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center, room 2204. 

Brief bios of candidates:

Miller was named associate vice chancellor and senior lecturer for the college student personnel administration program in 2015. Before that, he served as a consultant for Ellucian from 2014-2015 and director of Enrollment Management and Retention at Texas A&M University from 2012-2014. He also served as assistant vice president for Student Success at Baylor University from 2005-2012. 

He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Baylor University, a master's degree in higher education administration from Texas Tech University and a doctorate in higher education from University of North Texas, Denton. 

Rullman is principal of higher education strategy and consulting at Workshop Studios. He served as associate vice president for Student Life at University of Michigan from 2007-2017. Before that, he was executive director of Indiana Memorial Union at Indiana University and director of University Unions at University of Michigan. 

He received a bachelor's degree in advertising and Spanish from Valparaiso University, a master's degree in higher education from Indiana University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from University of Missouri, St. Louis. 

Dickstein was named interim vice president in 2016 after serving as assistant vice president for Student Affairs since 2006. Before that, he served in various roles at Wright State, including director of Community Standards and Student Conduct, and director of Student Judicial Services and Greek Life. 

He received a bachelor's degree in social work from Western Michigan University, a master's degree in higher education from Wright State University and a doctorate in higher education administration from Ohio University. 

Kowalski-Braun was named assistant vice president for Inclusion and Student Affairs in 2018. Before that, she served as associate vice provost for Student Affairs and assistant vice president for Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley from 2015-2017. She also served as assistant vice provost for Student Affairs from 2011-2015. 

She received a bachelor's degree in interpersonal and public communication from Central Michigan University, a master's degree in student personnel administration in higher education from Ball State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University.