GCC Names New Dean of Student Life
June 19, 2008
Contacts:
Suzanne Higgins
suzanne.higgins@gcmail.maricopa.edu 623.845.3808
Patricia Rhodes Vogel
pr.vogel@gcmail.maricopa.edu 623.845.3014
GCC Names New Dean of Student Life
Alberto Sanchez, Vice President of Student Affairs at Glendale Community College, announced on June 18 the selection of Dr. Osaro Ighodaro as Dean of Student Life. He will begin after July 1 on a date to be announced, subject to approval by the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board on June 24.
Ighodaro has most recently served as Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Scottsdale Community College. Prior to that position, he was the Director of Freshman Year Experience at Arizona State University, where that program was ranked among the top 25 such programs in the nation. Before ASU, Ighodaro served in similar positions at St. Mary's College of Maryland and Northern Arizona University (NAU).
Ighodaro's philosophy of working with students is 'student-centered,' which holds that every student is unique and worthy of support. It further holds that students be given both support and challenges that will facilitate personal and academic growth as they pursue their educational goals.
Furthermore, Ighodaro believes that colleges and universities are best able to achieve their mission goals when all stakeholders work together to educate students. To this end, he encourages and practices collaboration with students, student leaders, faculty, staff, administrators and external stakeholders to better meet the needs of students from diverse and varying backgrounds.
Ighodaro earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in political science at NAU.
