Miami’s dean of students announces her departure

After five years as associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students, Kimberly Moore is leaving Miami University. Her last day will be June 2.

Moore accepted a position as the vice president of Student Affairs at Xavier University. She will begin her role there on June 20.

“It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up for my family,” Moore said. “We really love the Cincinnati area, and it was an opportunity to lead in a more expansive way at the vice president level and to do so at a Jesuit institution.”

When Moore began her tenure in June 2018, she said her two goals were to listen and learn and to build relationships. In her past five years, she said she has done just that.

“The relationships that I’ve built — students, faculty, staff, administration — they’re absolutely the best takeaway that I have,” Moore said. “I’m so proud of the relationships I’ve built and the partnerships and the collaborations over the last five years.”

At Miami, Moore has helped create the Office of the Dean of Students with a team of six full-time staff members to meet the needs of students.

“When I came here, the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS) didn’t exist,” Moore said. “It was the dean of students and just two team members supporting that work, and there weren’t clear lines of service.”

Moore also expanded Title IX resources, developed the Student Concern Management System, launched the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion action team for Student Life and focused on student success and retention.

Jayne Brownell, vice president for Student Life at Miami, chaired the hiring committee for Moore and has worked closely with her for the past five years.

“I knew as soon as she interviewed, she was the strongest candidate in the pool,” Brownell said. “And I have never doubted during the time she’s been here that we hired the right person.”

Brownell said Moore brought a different perspective to what ODOS could do in terms of student development and created more robust support and advocacy programs for students.

Jules Jefferson, a senior biochemistry and nutrition double major, has worked with Moore since her first year at Miami. Jefferson served on the Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB), a student organization that helps ODOS influence change on campus, as the liaison for the Office of Residence Life.

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Although Jefferson no longer serves on DAB, she has consulted Moore on various projects throughout her academic career.

“I was shocked and sad because she was definitely a good asset to the university and an advocate for students,” Jefferson said.

Ryan Parker, a junior political science and strategic communications double major, was surprised to hear of Moore’s departure from the university. He worked closely with her at Associated Student Government and DAB.

“I wish her the best in whatever she has planned next, but it is disappointing,” Parker said. “I don’t want to say administrators aren’t listening to us, but more often than not, it’s a little bit of a struggle to get them to listen, and Dean Moore always responded promptly, gave full-detailed feedback [and] always left her calendar open for meetings.”

Brownell will chair the committee as Moore’s replacement. She said the committee is revising the job description, and a national search will be launched for applicants. The committee will pick five to eight candidates, and they will go through a thorough interview process.

“I would love to have someone in here by the start of the new year, but that is very ambitious,” Brownell said.

The Student Life leadership team, which consists of Brownell and three other assistant vice presidents, will oversee the majority of Moore’s work until a replacement is determined.

momanyaj@miamioh.edu