ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Amber Slack will join Winthrop University as its new associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, effective Oct. 1.
In this role, Slack will provide leadership to the Dean of Students Office, Residence Education, the Office of Accessibility, and New Student and Family Programs.
She is currently the dean of students at Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte campus where she was instrumental in leading the campus through the COVID pandemic and developing its safety protocols. Slack also spearheaded the first on-campus food pantry to combat food insecurity, focused on developing a first-year seminar course and built a strong connection with academic affairs to address student retention.
Shelia Burkhalter, Winthrop’s vice president for student affairs, said the associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students role is integral to the management of a myriad of student issues and concerns. “Dr. Amber Slack’s wealth of relevant education and experience, and demonstrated commitment to student mattering and belonging, made her a standout candidate for the position,” she said.
Prior to her position at Johnson & Wales, Slack spent 16 years at Queens University of Charlotte working in a variety of areas within student affairs, including Residential Life, Title IX and Student Conduct, Student Engagement and New Student Orientation. Her research centered on first-year student success, specifically focusing on the importance of a sense of belonging as a component of social integration.
A North Carolina native, Slack received her doctorate in educational leadership for higher education from UNC Charlotte. She received her master’s degree in education and bachelor’s degree in government from Campbell University.
Slack said she is very excited to join the Winthrop community this fall. “I look forward to working with the strong team of faculty and staff I met throughout the interview process to help further student success,” she said. “I particularly look forward to working with students and engaging in the various campus programs, arts activities and athletic events.”
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or at 803/323-2404.
