ESU Backup Insider

East Stroudsburg University President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., announced the appointment of Santiago Solis, Ed.D. as ESU’s vice president of campus life and inclusive excellence (formerly student affairs) effective Monday, September 23, 2019. Dr. Solis will replace Dr. Doreen Tobin, vice president for student affairs, who retired in June 2019 after 13 years of service to ESU’s students.

Solis brings more than 25 years of experience in diversity, education, administrative leadership and community involvement to his new role at ESU. Prior to accepting this position, he held several positions at Towson University in Maryland including his most recent role as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, providing oversight to the Center for Student Diversity, Student Success Programs, Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, Military and Veterans Center, Campus Ministries and Event and Conference Services. Solis was also a faculty student group advisor to a number of organizations at Towson including Students Helping Honduras, Muslim Student Association, Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA) Latin Sorority, South Asian Student Association, Latin American Student Organization, Chinese Culture Appreciation, Korean Student Association and Queer Student Union. He also has considerable teaching experience as a visiting and adjunct faculty member serving institutions such as The Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, The City College of New York, Teachers College at Columbia University, and Towson University.

“We are eager to have Dr. Solis bring his experiences in growing student diversity projects and achieving student success initiatives to East Stroudsburg University,” said Dr. Welsh about the appointment. “Santiago’s previous work indicates a strength and focus in supporting first generation, Latinx, African American, Asian, Pacific Island and low-income student populations, which aligns with the changes made this year to the division he will support that specifically place an emphasis on ESU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

Solis earned his associate’s degree in liberal arts from East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif., a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California Berkeley, a master’s degree in history from Brown University, R.I., and his doctorate of education in curriculum and teaching from the Teacher’s College, Columbia University, N.Y. He is a member of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), and has held a number of leadership and membership positions on committees and boards while at Towson. Solis has authored a number of articles and book chapters and has made presentations at conferences across the United States. Throughout his career, Solis has been honored by organizations including the National Football League, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Latinx Leadership Coalition at Towson University, The League of United Latin American Citizens, the Center for Black Equity Baltimore, NASPA Region II, Baltimore’s City Mayor, and former U.S. President Barack Obama.

In his new role, Solis will engage the Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence team and the broader community to address opportunities for student preparation, support and retention as well as diversity, equity and inclusivity. He will partner in fostering ESU’s commitment to student success and a campus culture of engagement by actively developing, implementing, and sustaining programs and services that promote a fully integrated student experience. He will also provide oversight and strategic direction for all the functions of the Division, including but not limited to Student Life, Residential and Dining Services, the Office of Multicultural Excellence, the Office of Health and Wellness, and Title IX by building collaborative internal and external relationships. In addition to having a direct relationship with the Student Activity Association (SAA), Dr. Solis is expected to advocate for and provide leadership to cultivate the educational success and personal development of ESU students by offering a wide variety of services, activities, and learning opportunities with the goal of preparing and empowering students to engage fully as active learners, responsible leaders, and contributing members of a diverse and dynamic campus community and global society.