Monday marked the beginning of part two of the vice president for student affairs (VPSA) public interview forums, which invited students, faculty and staff to meet the remaining two finalists.
On Thursday and Friday, candidate Art Munin shared his qualifications and said he discovered his niche with student affairs when he became a resident director at Loyola University (Chicago).
“I knew I found my life’s work,” Munin said. “I knew I found my calling.”
Munin earned his undergraduate psychology degree from Eastern Illinois University.
After graduating from Eastern, he earned his Master of Education degree in community counseling from Loyola and his Master of Arts degree in multicultural communication from DePaul University.
He earned his doctorate in higher education at Loyola.
While pursuing his degrees, Munin worked as a resident director at Loyola and later at DePaul. His professional career continued at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he worked as the director of Campus Activities for the entirety of 2005.
In 2006, Munin returned to DePaul to serve as the assistant dean of students and later became the dean of students in October 2011.
As dean, Munin said he has worked with career services, student leadership, fraternity and sorority life and health and wellness. Specifically, he said he has extensive experience with residential living, crises response and student conduct.
When asked why he is interested in Bradley, Munin cited both personal and professional reasons. He said his family is looking to establish roots in a smaller community and that he has been impressed with the environment at Bradley.
“As someone who is very energetic, I want to be with a student population that mirrors that energy,” Munin said. “I have found an incredibly engaged and vibrant student body here at Bradley.”
On Monday and Tuesday, VPSA candidate and current Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Nathan Thomas spoke of his experiences at Bradley and how they have prepared him to be VPSA.
“I’ve spent most of my professional career here at Bradley,” Thomas said. “It’s a place where I’ve literally grown up, and it’s all been working toward this position of VPSA.”
Thomas earned his undergraduate business administration degree from Southeast Missouri State University. While working as an associate hall director, Thomas earned his Master of business administration degree from Eastern.
He is pursuing his doctorate in educational administration and foundations at Illinois State University.
Thomas began his professional career as a director of chapter services at Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters in Oxford, Ohio, where he was responsible for all fraternity chapters’ operating results.
In June 2000, Thomas came to Bradley for the position of director of Greek Life. Since then, Thomas helped establish and has remained an active part of Bradley’s leadership studies minor. In June 2004, Thomas became the executive director of the Center for Residential Living and Leadership.
Thomas was appointed as interim vice president of Student Affairs in January 2013 when Alan Galsky stepped down from the position.
In Monday’s forum, Thomas described the progress he has made in his various roles.
“I’ve built that foundation of trust – I’ve been the person people can turn to, ask questions, get responses, get honest opinions and develop relationships with, and that’s really true to who I am,” Thomas said.
If hired as VPSA, Thomas said he plans to serve as a student advocate.
“Student Affairs is about the student experience, and it’s about allowing you and giving you the opportunities you need to be successful in the classroom, when you leave here and in the communities here,” he said.
Reviews of the other two VPSA candidates can be found in the April 25 issue of the Scout.
For more information, visit the “VPSA Search” webpage on Bradley’s website.
