Vice President of Student Affairs
Lori S. White is the Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Methodist University a position she has held since 2007. She also serves as clinical professor in the SMU Simmons School of Education. Prior to her arrival at SMU she served as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Southern California and has also worked at Stanford, Georgetown and San Diego State Universities and the University of
California, Irvine.
At SMU, Dr. White and her colleagues are responsible for student life programs including residence halls; women's, multi-cultural and volunteer and leadershipprograms; student conduct; campus ministries; health and wellness programs; career services; the Hughes-Trigg Student Center and the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports.
Dr. White is active nationally in several higher education organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Foundation.
Dr. White’s areas of emphasis in research and teaching include the student experience in higher education and the preparation and mentorship of new, mid-level and aspiring senior student affairs professionals. She is the author of a number of articles and book chapters and has presented widely at professional meetings.
Dr. White was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. She earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and English from the University of California, Berkeley and a
Ph.D. from Stanford University in education administration and policy analysis with emphasis in higher education. She also participated in Harvard University's Management and Leadership in Education Program.
Her claim to fame is that she can name the mascot of just about every Division 1 college.
214-768-2821 | lswhite@smu.edu
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs & Executive Director of the Hegi Family Career Center
Dr. Troy Behrens has 20 years of higher education and private industry experience and received his Doctorate in Higher Education Management from UCLA and a Masters Degree and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona. His responsibilities include overseeing the Hegi Family Career Center, Leadership & Community Involvement, Web Development & Branding, Strategic Planning & Assessments, division-wide staff development. Dr. Behrens also is the Student Media Liaison and chairs six committees. Prior to his appointment at SMU in 2006, Dr. Behrens served 9 years as Business Development Manager and Director of College Relations for Siemens where he earned The Siemens TOP+ Award for Innovative Business Solutions as well as a Global Recruiting Best Practices Award. Additionally, he has been a career counselor at the University of Arizona’s Career Center and the Director of Career Services for Roosevelt University in Chicago. He has authored 65 career management/student success articles and book chapters and is currently in the process of publishing 3 books.
214-768-2288 | tbehrens@smu.edu
Executive Director of Recreational Sports
Jorge C. Juarez earned his B.S. from Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and his Master of Science from Texas Tech University. Mr. Juarez will be entering his 18th year in the Recreation Sports Industry. Before accepting his position as the Executive Director at SMU, Mr. Juarez worked at five previous Recreational Sports departments: Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Texas Tech, Texas A&M – International, and Texas A&M – Commerce. Currently, Mr. Juarez is the Texas State Director for his professional organization – National Intramurals Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA). Mr. Juarez supervisors all areas of the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports, Intramurals, Sport Clubs, Outdoor Adventures, Aquatics, Fitness, Wellness, all Spirit Squads, and the MUSTANG Band.
214-768-3368 | jcjuarez@smu.edu
Assistant to the Vice President
Carol Harder joined the staff of SMU in 1996 as Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Dean of Student Life and Conduct Officer. In 1998, she became Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. She has served as Director of Administration on the Executive Board of the SMU Staff Association, was President of Delta Delta Delta Mothers’ Club, was a Mustang Corral leader, and is Co-Chair of the SMU Unbridled Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Faculty and Staff, Student Affairs Division. She is the recipient of the M Award for outstanding service to the university. Carol attended University of Houston.
214-768-2821 charder@smu.edu
Executive Director of the Memorial Health Center
Patrick Hite holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters in Health Administration from Indiana University. Prior to joining SMU in 1996, he was the Administrator/Chief Executive Officer of the Hunt Memorial Hospital District in Greenville, Texas. Before moving to Texas, he was a hospital administrator in Michigan and Indiana. He is board certified in Healthcare Administration and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Mr. Hite’s responsibilities include administrative oversight and supervision of the Health Center staff.
214-768-2146 | phite@smu.edu
Executive Director of Student Development and Programs
Jennifer M. Jones earned her B.A. and her Masters of Liberal Arts from Southern Methodist University. She joined the Staff of SMU in 1985. After serving 16 years in various roles within Residence Life and Student Housing, Ms. Jones went on to be the Director of Multicultural Student Affairs and later Assistant Dean of Student Life, Director of Student Activities & Multicultural Student Affairs at Southern Methodist University. In her current role as the Executive Director of Student Development & Programs, she advises the Student Association as well as coordinates the Social Event Registration process through her office. Ms. Jones supervises the Directors of the Student Center, the Women’s Center, Student Activities Affairs, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Multicultural Student Affairs.
214-768-4407 | jmjones@smu.edu
Executive Director of Residence Life and Student Housing
Steve Logan earned his B.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Marquette University and his M.S. in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University. He began his career in higher education as an Area Coordinator for Residence Life at Trinity University (TX). Subsequently, Mr. Logan served in positions of increasing responsibility in residence life/student housing at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Florida, Southeast Missouri State University, Farmingdale State University (SUNY) and Oneonta State College (SUNY) prior to assuming his current position at Southern Methodist University (SMU). In this role, Mr. Logan oversees a $16.5 million budget for eleven residence halls, forty-one apartments, three theme houses, and eight fraternity houses. Additionally, facilities, the SMU Child Care Center and summer camp/conference housing are under Mr. Logan’s auspices.
214-768-2420 | loganse@smu.edu
Associate Director of Development for Student Affairs
Arlene Manthey earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Oklahoma State University and her M.S. in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University. From 1981 until 1985, she served as the Program Advisor for the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University and advised numerous student programming committees. She joined the staff of SMU in 1985 as the Program Coordinator in the Department of Student Activities. She became the Assistant Director of Student Activities in 1994, and the Director in 1998. In 2006, she transitioned to a new role, taking on the assignment of fundraising and alumni relations for the Division of Student Affairs. She now oversees the campus and student life fundraising initiatives and volunteer management involved with SMU Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign.
214-768-4711 | amanthey@smu.edu
Executive Director Student Media Company
Jay Miller received a Bachelors Degree from Texas Tech University in political science/ journalism and also attended graduate school at Texas Tech University in the School of Mass Communications. After a two-year stint as a news reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Miller worked for the United States Olympic Committee at its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., in media relations from 1991-1999. Miller served on the USOC’s media relations team for five U.S. Olympic Festivals, the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, numerous World Championship events and two Olympic Games (Barcelona, 1992 & Salt Lake City, 2002). From 2000-2007, Miller was employed as the Director of Student Media & Marketing at The University of Texas at Dallas, where he oversaw the award-winning student newspaper —The UTD Mercury — and launched a student-run radio station in addition to teaching journalism classes. Prior to his appointment in July 2008 as SMU’s Executive Director of the Student Media Company, Miller worked for The Dallas Morning News in the SportsDay and neighorsgo sections.
Miller serves as executive director of the independent, non-profit Student Media Company, which publishes the award-winning Daily Campus student newspaper and Rotunda yearbook. He also serves as editorial adviser for both publications — guiding students in making their own editorial decisions while also exercising sound, ethical journalistic principles. In a broader sense, Miller is responsible for carrying out Student Media Company’s mission of operating superior, responsive student media in a learning environment dedicated to excellence, student freedom of expression and sound business practices appropriate to a university community. Miller is a past president of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and a longtime member of College Media Advisers.
214-768-4549 | jamiller@smu.edu
Chaplain and Minister to the University
Rev. Dr. Stephen Rankin received a Bachelors Degree from Kansas State University, a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology, a Master of Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Doctor of Philosophy from Northwestern University. He has taught in public school and has done youth ministry as well as pastoral ministry, including an international pastorate. From 1995 to 2009, Rev. Rankin served as professor of religious studies and campus minister at Southwestern College in Kansas.
As Chaplain, the position he holds embodies and symbolizes the United Methodist Church’s commitment to a Christian presence in higher education. More narrowly, he is responsible for setting the direction and overseeing (either directly or indirectly) pastoral care and religious life programming. A big part of that task is to support and help give perspective and guidance to staff members in the Religious Life Office. Broadly, the work of the Religious Life Office covers pastoral care, crisis ministry, and spiritual formation for the SMU community.
214-768-4507 | rankins@smu.edu
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Executive Director of Finance
Robert A. Watling earned a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Tech. In this role, he oversees the Memorial Health Center and Dedman Center for Recreational Sports as well as all budgeting, financial analysis, and accounting matters for the division. Prior to joining SMU, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Campus Life at Emory University and Director for Finance and Personnel at The George Washington University’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to beginning his career in higher education, he served in the US Army’s 29th Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division.
He is actively certified to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas and Commonwealth of Virginia, and he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
214-768-2822 | rwatling@smu.edu
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life
Dr. Lisa S. Webb, whose experience in higher education spans more than 25 years, earned her B.A. from Wheaton College, M.Ed. from Harvard, and an Ed.D. from the University of San Francisco. She also received a higher education administrative Fulbright Scholar Award to study higher education in Germany. Dr. Webb became SMU's Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life in September 2008. She came to SMU from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where she was Associate Dean of Students and Director of Multicultural Affairs. Her prior appointments have included positions at the University of California-Davis and Stanford University. In her role at SMU, Dr. Webb oversees the offices of Student Conduct and Community Standards, New Student Orientation and Student Support and Parent and Family Programs.
214-768-4564 | lisawebb@smu.edu