04-20-05

Open forums set for Department of Residence director candidates

AMES, Iowa - Four finalists have been named in the search for a new Department of Residence director at Iowa State University. They are:

• Virginia (Ginny) Arthur, associate director of residence life, Iowa State University
• Pete Englin, dean of students, Iowa State University
• Jane Grassadonia, director of residence education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
• Jim Zentmeyer, associate director of residence life, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

Candidates will participate in open forums on the Iowa State campus the week of April 25. Students, staff, faculty and other interested community members are invited to attend. All of the meetings will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

• Grassadonia: Tuesday, April 26, Campanile Room, Memorial Union
• Englin: Wednesday, April 27, Cardinal Room, Memorial Union
• Zentmeyer: Thursday, April 28, Gallery, Memorial Union
• Arthur: Friday, April 29, Campanile Room, Memorial Union

More than 7,000 students live on the Iowa State University campus, making its Department of Residence one of the nation's largest.

Arthur has served as associate director for residence life at Iowa State since 1996. She also has served as interim manager for administrative services in the Department of Residence since 2003. Arthur's previous roles in the department have included interim director of residence, assistant director of residence/director of Richardson Court and the Towers residence halls, and departmental coordinator of residence life. She is a past president of the Association of College and University Housing Officers - International. Arthur earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Washington College, Chestertown, Md.; a master of science in student personnel in higher education from Syracuse University, New York; and a doctorate in higher education from Iowa State.

Englin is dean of students at Iowa State, a position he has held since 2000. Previously, Englin served as associate dean of students, coordinator of residence life, and marketing and conferences coordinator in the Department of Residence. Englin earned a bachelor's degree in zoology and a master of science in education from North Dakota State University, Fargo. He earned a doctorate in hotel, restaurant and institution management and family and consumer science education from Iowa State. Englin is president-elect of the Iowa Student Personnel Association and is a member of the Ames Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Grassadonia has served as director of residence education at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, since 1993. Prior to that, she worked as an area director at the University of Maryland, College Park, and at the University of Rochester, N.Y. She also was a hall director at Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Wash. Grassadonia is a past president of the Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Washington State University, Pullman; and a master of science in higher education administration and counseling from the University of Rochester. Grassadonia is a doctoral candidate in Urban Services Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Zentmeyer has been associate director of residence life at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, since 1998. He also has served as area coordinator for residence operations at the University of Illinois - Chicago; associate dean of students for residence life at Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y.; resident coordinator at West Chester University, Penn.; and administrative resident director at the State University of New York at Albany. Zentmeyer received a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master of science in higher education counseling from West Chester University.

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