Photo of Dr. K.C. Mmeje

Dr. Kenechukwu (K.C.) Mmeje

(he/him/his)

Vice President for Student Affairs

Dr. K.C. Mmeje (pronounced MAY-jay) serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at SMU. In his current role, Dr. Mmeje serves as a member of the President’s Executive Council (PEC) and provides strategic leadership for areas that directly impact a student’s success and sense of belonging on campus. He oversees the Office of the Dean of Students, Residence Life and Student Housing, Women and LGBT Center, Social Change and Intercultural Engagement, the Hegi Family Career Development Center and campus ministries. He also leads health and wellness programs and offices, including the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center, the Hughes-Trigg Student Center and the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports.


Education and Credentials

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Black Studies – University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Master of Education, Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration – University of Vermont (UVM)
Doctor of Education, Educational Policy & Leadership, Concentration in Higher Education Administration – University of Southern California (USC)

About Dr. Mmeje

Dr. K.C. Mmeje serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at SMU. In his current role, Dr. Mmeje serves as a member of the President’s Executive Council (PEC) and provides strategic leadership for areas that directly impact a student’s success and sense of belonging on campus. He oversees the Office of the Dean of Students, Residence Life and Student Housing, Women and LGBT Center, Social Change and Intercultural Engagement, the Hegi Family Career Development Center and campus ministries. He also leads health and wellness programs and offices, including the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center, the Hughes-Trigg Student Center and the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports. 

Driven by an earnest desire to provide an exceptional experience for all SMU students, Dr. Mmeje pioneered the development and implementation of Student Affairs’ strategic plan, Cultivating Courageous Change – a guiding ethos outlining the division’s commitment to fostering a dynamic, vibrant and inclusive campus that supports continued student development and learning. He was also instrumental in the multimillion-dollar renovation of Hughes-Trigg. Completed in 2021, the reimagined facility in the heart of the Hilltop serves as a space where students come together to socialize, dine, study and participate in the full slate of campus activities.

Prior to joining SMU, Dr. Mmeje served as the assistant vice president and dean of students at Loyola University in Chicago (LUC). He also worked in various roles serving students while at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Vermont (UVM). 

Dr. Mmeje earned his undergraduate degree in sociology and Black studies from the University of California-Santa Barbara, his master’s degree in higher education student affairs administration from the University of Vermont and his doctorate in educational leadership from USC. Dr. Mmeje is the recipient of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students’ (NISTS) 2013 Barbara K. Townsend Dissertation of the Year Award. 

He has published numerous articles and book chapters in the following areas: improving student success and retention for historically underserved students; institutional effectiveness in producing equitable educational outcomes for historically underserved populations; and the declining rates of participation among college men in leadership and involvement opportunities.

Dr. Mmeje serves on the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) NUFP Board, the UCSB Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the University of Vermont’s College of Education and Social Sciences (CESS) Advisory Board. Lastly, Dr. Mmeje is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and is an active member of its Xi Tau Lambda Chapter.

Favorite SMU Tradition

Without question, my favorite SMU tradition is the Celebration of Lights. This distinctive campus event is planned and executed by students, specifically, Student Foundation—and it marks the beginning of the Holiday Season on the Hilltop. The campus community and neighborhood residents gather on the historic Dallas Hall lawn for a magical evening filled with student performances, hot chocolate, reindeer, and President Turner’s reading of the Christmas Story. The anticipation builds throughout the program as participants await the moment when the Christmas tree and all the trees on the quadrangle are lit. This campus tradition truly unites our community and showcases the many talents of our exceptional students.

Learn more about the Division of Student Affairs

 

Visit the website
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