Jill Creighton named associate VP of student affairs, dean of students

Closeup of Creighton.
Creighton to serve in the Division of Student Affairs as associate vice president and dean of students. (Photo courtesy of the University of Oregon)

By Chantell Cosner, Division of Student Affairs

Following a nationwide search, Jill Creighton will join the Division of Student Affairs and serve as associate vice president and the dean of students.

“Jill brings a history and commitment to partnering with students, faculty and staff to enhance various aspects of campus life,” said Mary Jo Gonzales, vice president for student affairs. “Her expertise in community standards, particularly around student rights and responsibilities, will enable her to lead WSU’s implementation of our new community standards process, which more accurately reflects our core Cougar values.”

Creighton will oversee the Center for Community Standards, Housing and Residence Life, the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Office of the Dean of Students on the WSU Pullman campus, as well as support campus life efforts on all WSU campuses. Her appointment is effective Feb. 26.

Previously, Creighton served as the assistant dean of students for conduct and operations at the University of Oregon, where she supervised the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, assessment, food security, and operations for the Office of the Dean of Students. In addition, she worked at New York University where she led student conduct efforts at 14 global locations across six continents.

Creighton notes, “I am beyond thrilled to be joining the WSU system family and getting back to my Washington roots,” and looks forward to immersing herself into the Coug nation.

“I come in motivated to lead WSU’s Campus Life into the future — a place where students can go for support and connection, where administrators and faculty can collaborate with us to assist students, and where our team members can thrive, no matter where they are in the WSU system.”

Creighton has served as the president of the Association for Student Conduct Administration and as the Region V Public Policy Division representative for NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Central Washington University and her Master of Education in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University. She currently is pursuing her doctorate at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Implementing the revised community standards process

Approved in November 2018 by the Board of Regents, changes to Washington State University’s Standards of Conduct for Students are now in effect.

“Educating students about their rights and responsibilities and providing them with the appropriate tools and resources to successfully navigate the process is the goal of these changes,” said Gonzales.

Students will have access to a completely new online student handbook, which will provide an overview of the Washington Administrative Code written in language that is easier to understand. Students will attend informational sessions to learn about their rights and responsibilities and be able to solicit the help of a volunteer conduct advisor to support them through the community standards process.

Guidelines for sanctioning when students are found responsible for violating community standards are also included. The WSU Student Handbook will be released later this month.

Gonzales will be visiting all WSU campuses to share the new community standards resources and tools with students, faculty and staff.

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