Wichita State names new Associate VP for Student Affairs
Aaron Austin, under the appointment of Teri Hall, will join Wichita State on Monday, Sept. 18.
Aaron Austin has been appointed as Wichita State’s new Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Student Life by Vice President of Student Affairs Teri Hall, Wichita State announced Monday morning.
Austin will join Wichita State in the Student Affairs department on Monday, Sept. 18.
Austin, 43, is a graduate of Kansas State University. He earned a master’s in higher and post-secondary education at Arizona State University.
His position will supervise areas of Student Involvement, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Conduct.
Hall noted in a statement that Austin is a first-generation college student who has “exactly the right mix of experiences and attitudes that Student Affairs and the university community needs at this moment.”
Austin previously worked as a vice president at Bethel College in Newton.
Austin replaces Christine Schneikart-Luebbe, who unexpectedly resigned from the position in March after working with the university for 23 years. The position has been vacant since her resignation.
Evan Pflugradt is the former sports editor of The Sunflower. Pflugradt past served as the publication's Editor in Chief, Opinion Editor and a reporter....
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:45 am
Good morning.
That’s a lot to digest. You seem very upset and appear to have some very concrete examples. Would you be willing to share some specific examples that prompted your comments? I can be reached at [email protected].
My most sincere hope is that you are able to find some level of peace.
All blessings to you.
– Aaron L. Austin ([email protected])
Scour The Sunflower • Oct 5, 2017 at 3:14 pm
Hi Aaron, I encourage you to study The Sunflower news. Scour the history of this university that well documented and researched by this newspaper. I encourage you to talk to Chance Swaim and The Sunflower newspaper. They can tell you what mess you’ve walked into.
How to survive • Sep 6, 2017 at 11:23 pm
All of you have great advice, I just want to contribute some other goodies.
So…make sure that when students are concerned, have questions, disagree, or have peaceful sit-in strikes…you have to be just like your colleagues and you MUST completely ignore them.
Make yourself as unavailable as you possibly can: be on vacation, have lots and lots of meetings, turn the lights off in your office and shut off the lights, . Just ALWAYS have a reason that there is absolutely possible way to contact you.
Make excuses from out your butt. I feel like you can just pretty much learn how to do that if you ever correspond with Bardo…let’s be honest here…all of the administration.
Oh, ya, David Moses…make sure you contact David about all these big legal problems WSU is creating that you don’t know about yet…but you are about to find out about. WSU is doing a lot of dirty and skeezy business. David is your go to slime bag attorney. When you need horrible legal counsel..he’s your man.
Oh ya, and get a lawyer. Definitely make sure you get a lawyer when you get fired. Because David will make your life a living hell. And make sure you get as much dough out of your silence agreement as possible while we all swim in school loans.
Anyways! Best of luck to you Aaron!
Fake Pres. Bardo • Sep 3, 2017 at 11:41 pm
Remember I am king, you will do what is best for me, innovation campus, and getting a football team. At WSU less than 20% first time full time students graduate in 4 years but some 44% will graduate in 6 years. Students will pay an estimated 3-4 thousand dollars to keep a basketball team and the new YMCA (where I will get a six pack) over an assumed four year academic life. I am morally okay with these numbers and you need to be on the same page as me.
I’m standing by with a pre-signed severance package.
As always,
Fake Pres. Bardo
Elsie • Aug 30, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Congratulations! If it is as bad as I expect, and you are a man of character. You should be submitting your resignation within 90 days. Hope your next position is better.
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:39 am
Elsie –
Good morning and thank you for the congratulations.
I consider myself a man of character, and I hope to be here longer than 90 days. I’d be very interested in hearing your perspective on things, and of course allowing you to judge for yourself what type of man I seem to be. If you ever want to follow up on this, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All the best to you.
– Aaron L. Austin ([email protected])
Steve • Aug 29, 2017 at 3:10 pm
Aaron will also need to keep in mind that at WSU appearances are more important than results. Never acknowledge reality – at Bardo’s WSU enrollment is always up, parking is always available and tripling up in the privately owned dorms is a great way to meet new friends.
Enrollment • Aug 30, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Enrollment will be up as long as they got to all the retirement homes again and waived some tuition to get some of the residents signed up. It will also require Tomblin to use some NIAR funds to sign up people AND PAY some high school students and some business people for some one credit classes. Seriously. This actually happens.
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:36 am
Steve –
Good morning. Thanks for your comments.
Let’s talk more about them. Please feel free to email me at your convenience.
All the best to you.
– Aaron L. Austin ([email protected])
Steve • Aug 29, 2017 at 2:59 pm
As long as he supports Innovation Campus 100%, acts like a Bardo sycophant and never sticks up for students that aren’t athletes or Greeks, he will be just fine. Working at WSU requires you to lose your morals at the door and look the other way on the massive amount of corruption and self dealing that takes place on this campus.
Betsy • Aug 29, 2017 at 2:29 pm
Condolences Aaron. It must be hard to read these comments and feel welcome. It’s a shame you will have to be working with Teri Hall, Tony Vizzini and President Bardo. Students no longer come first. Be careful who you trust. Watch your back. Don’t ask any questions. Just do as you’re told. And if you have a moral compass, get rid of that now. That’s why Lyston Skerritt had to leave. He was very direct and open in his departure letter. There could be no question about why he left. He was very clear he was being asked to do things and say things that were untrue and that were not supportive of students. He just couldn’t take it anymore. Sorry the news couldn’t be more positive. Can you still get out of this?
Tweet • Aug 30, 2017 at 7:35 am
I understand Teri Hall’s partner tweeted something negative about Lyston questioning his morals and then deleted it seven minutes later. Is this true? Did anyone get a screenshot of it to share? Why would she do that and how would she know of confidential personnel issues unless Teri shared them with her?
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:34 am
Betsy –
Thank you for your kindness. I will not lie, it was disheartening to hear so many people painting me in a negative light before I arrived on campus. However, I believe I walk into this position with my eyes open.
I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your comments and suggestions. Would you be willing to reach out to find a time for us to meet?
Thanks again for feeling so passionately.
All the best!
– Aaron L. Austin ([email protected])
Wisdom II • Aug 29, 2017 at 7:54 am
Aaron,
Congratulations. You will quickly learn you have decisions to make. Overseeing Greeks and Conduct will be a no win from the start. Just be aware that any incidents involving Greeks and Athletes (especially men’s basketball players) will not go well for you if you implement the code of conduct. Tread carefully should you be faced with those issues as there is a well documented history of that issue.
Why is ODI still in Student Affairs when there is now a Vice President for Diversity? Shouldn’t the office with “Diversity” in its title be reporting to the Vice President for Diversity?
The only growth that will occur that Byron notes will happen next year as WSU absorbs WATC and they will call that enrollment growth. All the money on consultants hasn’t produced results the last four years so also be aware of that.
The more quiet you can be and the less risk you can take, the better you will be. Cover your back when dealing with a few Exec Team members since not doing that can lead to a greatly shortened tenure.
Good luck.
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:30 am
Good morning.
More good advice. Thank you.
Obviously, I’m still learning about the history and structure of the institution, but I think the ODI (including similar offices at other institutions) is a vital part of every Student Affairs office. I am more than happy to discuss this with you, or others. Just shoot me an email and we can set up a time to talk.
All the best to you.
– Aaron L. Austin ([email protected])
Byron Johnson • Aug 28, 2017 at 9:08 pm
Aaron,
Congratulations I wish you and your family the best of luck with the new position. It’s been a long time coming it’s great to see a fellow K-Stater stepping into a leadership role at one of my other schools.
WSU is going through some growing pains. It’s trying develop a long-term strategy for growth. Figure out what that means to the greater community as well as the student body. I know you can help guide and lead the students and prepare the University to take that next from step into a bigger more diversified world.
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:26 am
Byron –
Good morning.
Thanks for the kind thoughts. I hope you and your family are well.
Take care.
– AA
Wisdom for Aaron • Aug 28, 2017 at 3:07 pm
My advice to you Aaron, you kind of do and you kind of don’t have that big of shoes to fill.
People have been in and out of your position like a revolving door. Just don’t be like Eric Sexton, he’s corrupt. Be like Christine, except don’t ever question anything the administration does because you’ll get fired too. Get ready to give up your morals and um, ya, I think that’s about all the advice I have for you. Good luck, dude!
Wisdom for Aaron part II • Aug 29, 2017 at 3:49 am
Lastly, pay heed. Be unafraid like Wade Robinson, the only person who stood up for a student who got raped and you will DEFINITELY lose your job. Just basically don’t do the right thing and you won’t be kicked out of the club! You’ve got this!
Aaron L. Austin • Sep 26, 2017 at 11:25 am
Good morning.
Thank you for the advice. I’d like to hear more about your concerns and hope you will take the opportunity to meet with me. Please feel free to email me at your convenience.
All the best to you.
– Aaron L. Austin ([email protected])