SUBJECT:

Appointment of Assistant Vice Chancellor-Student Life

It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Patricia “Patty” Mahaffey as Assistant Vice Chancellor-Student Life. Patty has over 24 years of professional experience in Student Affairs, and she has spent 22 of these years at UC San Diego in John Muir College. Since 2002, Patty has served as the Dean of Students at Muir College where she has been responsible for all aspects of student life at the college, including residential life, crisis and emergency management, student leadership programs and student activities, orientation programs, student conduct, academic integrity and a college center facility.

Dr. Mahaffey’s history and record of accomplishment of student-centered leadership is a valuable asset to Student Affairs and the campus as a whole. Patty has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the campus’s inaugural First Year Experience and Transfer Year Experience courses and launched a campus-wide basic needs committee along with assisting in the establishment of the campus’s first food pantry for food insecure students. She assisted in the development of a case management team to support students with mental health and wellness issues at all six undergraduate colleges and chaired the campus’s international and out of state student workgroup. Patty has extensive experience in policy development in student conduct, academic integrity, and campus safety and crisis management. She has exemplified exceptional leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusion by supporting campus-wide initiatives and launching equity-minded programs at the college level. She served as a member of the Education Initiatives Committee charged with the evaluation and implementation of High Impact Practices throughout Student Affairs and the Colleges and served on the subcommittee responsible for development of the co-curricular transcript from 2012 to 2014.

Dr. Mahaffey holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from UC San Diego and California State University, San Marcos’ joint doctoral program. She has a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance with an emphasis in Student Affairs from California Polytechnic State University, and a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Arizona. Patty is an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University in the College of Education and has co-taught courses in Higher Education and Student Affairs at UC San Diego Extension.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor-Student Life reports to the Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs and provides strategic leadership and oversight for the University Centers (Price Center, Student Center), Center for Student Involvement (Student Organizations, Greek Life, Leadership and Communication Programs, Community Service and Social Innovation programs), Student Governments (Associated Students, Graduate Student Association), University Events Office, ArtPower (Performing Arts), Student Legal Services, and the Student Life Business Office.

Dr. Mahaffey will begin as Assistant Vice Chancellor-Student Life on July 1, 2017. Please join us in welcoming Patty to her new role.

Peter F. Cowhey Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Juan C. González Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs