April 26, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ga. — CSU President Frank Brown has announced that Gina Sheeks will become the university’s next vice president for student affairs.

Sheeks, currently associate vice president for student affairs, will begin her new role June 1. She takes over from vice president Larry Kees, who is retiring after working in the student affairs division for 35 years.

Sheeks has worked in a variety of campus roles since she was hired full-time at Columbus State University as a communication professor in 1993.

She’s led the career center, the continuing education division, the communications department and several major universitywide initiatives. For the past six years, she also has served as assistant and associate vice president for student affairs.

“Her service to our institution in the classroom, as interim chair of the Communication Department, as chair of special projects such as the CSU Strategic Plan and the Quality Enhancement Plan and her outstanding work in the Student Affairs Division combine to make her the right person to lead this critical program,” Brown said.

He said the university’s goals of improving retention and graduation rates can best be addressed through the combined efforts of the academic side and the student affairs side of the university. With Sheeks’ experience in both, her background will be invaluable in advancing the university and the student affairs division.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” Sheeks said. “The staff in this division is really first rate, and we all truly enjoy working with the amazing students we have here at Columbus State University. Great things are on the horizon for CSU, and I’m honored I will be a part of it.”

The university’s student affairs division oversees virtually all areas of campus — except academics — that directly impact students. This includes student housing, the counseling center, student life, university police, the career center, Greek life and student recreation.

Sheeks earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Murray State University in Kentucky. She has her doctorate in higher education administration from Georgia State University.