Mason named Dean of Student Life at UW-Whitewater
Released: April 27, 2004
Tisa A. Mason, executive director of the Sigma Kappa Sorority and Foundation in Indianapolis, has been named the new dean of Student Life at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater effective July 26.
“We’re very excited to have Dr. Mason join us,” said Barb Jones, assistant chancellor for student affairs. “She has a diverse background, and her leadership experience will be a wonderful addition to the university and student affairs. Dr. Mason has the ability to quickly establish relationships with students and build a positive campus environment.”
Mason has been executive director of the Sigma Kappa Sorority and Foundation since 1994, where she serves as chief staff officer for the 135,000-plus membership organization. She is responsible for an annual operating budget of $1.3 million for the Sorority and $500,000 for the Foundation. Mason’s key accomplishments with the Sorority and Foundation include lobbying for the passage of legislation to allow educational foundations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure grants to the benefit of full-time college students. She also created a sponsorship program to provide additional educational resources for national conventions and leadership school.
As dean of Student Life, Mason will oversee the Student Life area including: New Student Programs, Leadership Development, University Health and Counseling Services, Career Services, Center for Students with Disabilities, Project Assist, commencement, student involvement, medical withdrawals, student ombuds service and academic/non-academic student conduct.
“I am looking forward to joining an outstanding leadership team dedicated to promoting student success by creating and enriching the learning environment,” said Mason. “I am eager to meet more members of the community and to listen and learn more about what makes UW-Whitewater distinctive.” In addition to her work with Sigma Kappa, Mason is an adjunct professor of higher education and student affairs at Indiana University in Indianapolis. Prior to joining Sigma Kappa Sorority in 1994, Mason served as director of student life at Christopher Newport College in Newport News, Va.
Mason received her doctorate and educational specialist degrees in higher education from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She has a master’s degree in counseling and guidance/student personnel work in higher education from Eastern Illinois University in Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from Transylvania University in Kentucky.
Mason will succeed Suzanne Gordon, retired dean of students from the University of Arkansas, who served as interim dean of student life for the past year while a national search was conducted.
- Melissa DiMotto,dimottom@uww.edu
