Organization

Office of the Vice President Staff Listing

John Saddlemire, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs

Email: John.Saddlemire@uconn.edu

Dr. John R. Saddlemire was selected as Vice President for Student Affairs after having served as Dean of Students for two years. He has over twenty years of experience in a variety of college and university settings. Prior to his present position, he served Heidelberg College in Tiffin Ohio as Vice President for Student Affairs for six years. Previous professional experience has been in the functional areas of Student Activities, Residence Life and Service Learning at Indiana University, the University of Hartford, Penn State University and Elizabethtown College.

Dr. Saddlemire has also long been committed to providing effective, efficient services that support and enhance the educational mission of the university. The goal is to encourage each student to become dynamically engaged and personally responsible for their own UConn experience. As Co-Director of the Higher Education and Student Affairs Master's Program in the Neag School of Education, he also is committed to the preparation of aspiring student affairs professionals. He has advised and/or supervised numerous graduate assistants throughout his career. He has also taught at the undergraduate and graduate level, including Leadership Development, Capstone Seminar, Foundations and Functions in Higher Education and The Small College Experience.

Cynthia F. Jones, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

Email: Cynthia.F.Jones@uconn.edu

As Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Cynthia F. Jones plays a significant role in coordinating the Division's human resources activities, working on strategic planning, policy development and revision. Additional duties include teaching in the Higher Education program, providing leadership for Divisional marketing and promotional activities, supervising the Department of Career Services and representing the Division on the e-Portfolio Steering Committee and supervision of the Senior Year Experience initiative.

Cynthia has worked as a career counselor and directed an outreach program to increase the diversity of students entering teacher credentialing programs at San Diego State University. Prior to joining the staff at UConn, as Director of Career Services, she held the same position at Coe College, a small private liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Cynthia holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She earned Masters Degrees in Public Administration and Counseling as well as a Liberal Arts Bachelor's Degree from San Diego State University.

David Clokey, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

Email: David.Clokey@uconn.edu

David Clokey coordinates the central budgetary process for the Division, directs the University Student Fee process for General University and Activity Funds, provides central leadership for the implementation and on-going management of the Division's technology resource plan as well as supervises the Division's IT Department, the Student Union and the One Card ID Office. He also co-facilitates the Higher Education & Student Affairs Master's Program Practicum Course.

David has worked in Student Affairs in a variety of administrative roles for over 15 years in the areas of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs. Prior to joining the UConn staff as Associate Dean of Students for Judicial Affairs, he served as director of Residential Life at the University of Vermont. David has also worked in residential life and judicial affairs at the University of Maryland.

David earned his Master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Vermont and his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from Indiana State University.

Denielle Burl, Director of Risk Management

Email: Denielle.Burl@uconn.edu

Denielle M. Burl joins the Division as the Director of Risk Management.

Ms. Burl has dedicated her education and experience towards a career in higher education law and risk management. While at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Ms. Burl clerked in the Education Department of the Connecticut Attorney Generals Office. Upon graduation, she became a full time University legal specialist at the University of Connecticut, where she gained significant experience in all areas of Higher Education law including student services in general, constitutional law as it is applied in higher education, intellectual property, contract law, study abroad programs, student organizations, student health services, technology law, and privacy issues, including FERPA.

With experience in teaching, academic advising, mentoring and legal representation, she offers a uniquely well-rounded perspective to legal issues facing the Division. As stated, above, she possesses extensive higher education law and risk management experience. In addition, she has experience in student mentoring at the University of Connecticut School of Law, teaching and academic advising at Arizona State University, and academic advising at technical colleges in the Southwest.

Ms. Burl is licensed to practice law in Connecticut and New York and is a member of the American, Connecticut and New York Bar Associations.

Julie Elkins, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs

Email: Julie.Elkins@uconn.edu

Dr. Julie Elkins, serves as the Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs. As the official spokesperson for the University Connecticut on Corporate Social Responsibility, she works directly with the President's office and the President's Committee for Corporate Social Responsibility; facilitates close communication with the Workers' Rights Consortium (an international non-governmental organization); and collaborates with other Universities committed to ending sweatshop labor. Julie is in her fourth year as the advisor to the Undergraduate Student Government. She is also the co-founder/co-leader of the Mansfield Community-Campus Partnership along with Mayor Paterson for the town of Mansfield, Connecticut. Julie is actively involved in facilitating positive relationships with the Mansfield community, and serves as a member of the Town/Gown Town Council Committee. Julie joined UCONN in 2002 as the Associate Dean of Students, and has also served as the Interim Dean of Students.

Julie has worked in the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs for over 20 years. She worked in the area of Residential Education at the University of Delaware, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Julie also served as the Director of Social Issues and Wellness and the Assistant Dean of Students at Framingham State College, where she supervised the judicial system, multicultural affairs, AIDS education, and alcohol and other drug education.

Julie has held numerous leadership roles on a national level in Student Affairs. Highlights of her service to the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) include: the only two-time Chair of ACPA's Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Awareness, Director of the Core Council on Outreach and Advocacy, current ACPA Treasurer, Founder of the Paul Hart Fund, and Founder/Director of the AIDS Memorial Choir. She is currently serving on the NASPA region I board as the Director of the Alcohol and Other Drug Knowledge Community. Julie is a national reviewer for the Department of Education for educational grants and a center associate for the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.

Julie has a B.S. in Social Work from Central Missouri State University, a M.A. in Counseling and Higher Education Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. Her research areas include Community-Campus partnerships, and alcohol and other drug environmental initiatives.

Cathy Downs, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President

Email: Catherine.Downs@uconn.edu

Cathy Downs works closely with the Vice President and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs in support of division-wide initiatives. She manages the day to day operations of the office and coordinates a variety of committees and events on behalf of the Office of the Vice President. Cathy also serves as the contact person for the Student Fee Advisory Committee Activity and Service Fee Sub Group, the Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Vice President's Student Leadership Cabinet. Cathy has worked in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for 8 years and has served at the University for over 12 years.

Janice Canniff, Office Specialist

Email: Janice.Canniff@uconn.edu

Janice serves as the primary contact for calls and visitors to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. She works closely with the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and the Director of Risk Management. She also organizes and coordinates various events that represent Student Affairs and is responsible for reports that are generated by the office. Janice serves as the division resource for employee search procedures.

Janice received her AAS Degree from Broome Community College, Binghamton, New York.