LaRue Pierce is the new director of Student Affairs at Sinclair Community College.
“I am grateful for the privilege to serve the Sinclair community as its Director of Student Affairs,” Pierce said.
He took the position on July 16, after the previous director, Scott Markland, received a promotion to be the vice president of Regional Centers.
Pierce has a bachelor’s in psychology and a masters degree in education and special education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
His previous work experience includes 11 years at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. as an associate dean and director of the Academic Center, as well as coordinator of Judicial Affairs.
In addition, he became the Associate Dean and coordinator of Judicial Affairs of Vincennes University in Ind., before making his way to Sinclair.
“The dedicated Student Affairs Group is here to provide students with personalized attention to assist them in completing their academic, career and personal goals,” Pierce said.
The director of Student Affairs oversees 10 departments, including those such as Disability Services, Campus Ministry, Career Services, the Center for Student Success, Tutorial Services, Minority Student Success and the Student Leadership Development office.
“Each department works with the community to assist in developing new methods that will help the college,” he said. “I am the buffer between the vice president and the other directors to help see that through.”
Pierce explained that after he was able to see for himself that Sinclair was headed in a positive direction, he wanted to become a part of the college.
“I chose to take this position because of the reputation of the institution — I thought that the college was going in a proactive and positive direction,” he said. “The types of programs that they have are well thought out and provide students with many things.”
One of the main goals Pierce hopes to accomplish within his time at Sinclair is increasing student engagement.
“We (Student Affairs) want to increase student engagement. It is our number one priority,” he said. “We collaborate with faculty and staff in order to do so.”
Pierce said that although he is new at Sinclair, he has an open-door policy and feels that the people he has interacted with have been helpful and extremely engaging — wanting to share information with him.
“I’m still learning what we are doing,” he said. “But I have an open-door policy; if students have anything that they think we can improve or enhance, let us know.”