Mike Walsh, a dedicated student affairs leader and champion for the student experience, has been named vice president for student affairs at the University of Mary Washington. With work spanning five universities of varied missions and magnitudes, he brings a focus on the foundation of care for all learners to succeed and make a difference in the world. He will join UMW in the vice president role on July 10.

“Mike Walsh brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of student needs, which will be invaluable as we continue to prioritize experiential learning and student engagement,” said UMW President Troy Paino. “Our students are at the center of everything we do, including activities beyond the classroom, and the new vice president for student affairs will serve a crucial role in expanding these opportunities and ensuring that every student has access to transformative experiences that prepare them for success after graduation.”

Walsh comes to Mary Washington most recently from the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), where he served as vice provost for student affairs. In that role, he created what is now the Office of Student Affairs, encompassing nine areas that center and champion the student experience. Among his initiatives there, he co-founded or provided the leadership for the Center for Learner Diversity and Inclusion, the Academic Success Center, the Student CARE Program, the emergency funds program, OHSU’s first Housing program, increases in healthcare pathway development programs, an increase in student engagement activities and the introduction of a new student services assessment process. Read more.

The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of about 4,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Virginia, which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers.