A student affairs administrator with accomplishments in diversity initiatives, experience in student demographic changes and management of residential programs, student activities, and spiritual and religious life will become the dean of students at the University of Southern Indiana at the end of July.
Dr. Angela E. Batista, associate dean of students in the Office of Community Life at Mills College, will assume the position held by Barry Schonberger, who is retiring as dean of students after 38 years of service.
“Dr. Batista will bring great enthusiasm, as well as a significant range of student affairs experience, to our Council of Deans,” said Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, USI provost. “Her ability to connect with students, develop partnerships across campus, and lead student diversity and social justice initiatives will be a most welcome addition to USI.”
Dr. Batista has devoted more than 20 years to her career in education including college administration work and as teacher, counselor, and administrator in the K-12 setting. She was the chair of the Foreign Language and English as a Second Language (ESOL) departments in a high school in Florida.
Prior to working at Mills College in Oakland, California, she was the inaugural chief diversity officer at Champlain College in Vermont. She developed an institution-wide diversity initiative there. She also established strong external partnerships in support of under-represented students in communities where she has worked.
An accomplished presenter and consultant, she has been on the executive board of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE) and a presenter and member of NASPA- Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
She earned her Ed.D. in Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and her master’s degree from the University of Vermont. Her undergraduate work was completed at Brooklyn College.
“I am excited about the position as I see that USI is in a great place for growth with the potential for becoming a stronger resource for the region,” said Dr. Batista. “I have co-curricular experience with the different student demographics including commuter students, international students, adult students, and first-generation students.”
Her areas of research, expertise, and consultation include leadership development, multicultural and social justice education, strategic planning for diversity, and strategies to increase retention for undergraduate students.
A 13-member search advisory committee headed by Dr. Brian Posler, USI associate provost for Academic Affairs, led the search for the dean of students. “I appreciate the hard work of the committee in this nation-wide search,” said Dr. Rochon. “They gave extra hours and good thought to the process.”