Mission Statement
Student Affairs at the University of Tampa educates, supports and empowers students through holistic, experiential and diverse learning opportunities that develop Spartan Ready® competencies, preparing students to contribute to a global society.
Vision Statement
Student Affairs at the University of Tampa will be known for its innovative professionals and dynamic Spartan Ready culture that engages every student and results in their sense of belonging, student success, well-being and life transformation.
Student Affairs
Core Values
- Engage in teamwork that contributes to a common purpose.
- Cultivate an atmosphere of celebration for individual and group success.
- Initiate cross-campus partnerships and participation in external groups to enhance programming and services.
- Develop an environment that is responsive to the community’s interests and needs.
- Foster a sense of belonging where all can authentically build community and grow.
- Foster a sense of shared responsibility for each other, the environment and the UTampa community.
- Actively participate in the campus and community by serving on committees, volunteering to assist with student programs, and attending events when aligned with responsibilities or interests.
- Promote opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to engage in civic and community activities locally, nationally and global
- Demonstrate continuous development of knowledge and focus on innovation.
- Develop self-awareness and commit to continued learning.
- Be known as reliable, problem-solving, adaptable and emotionally intelligent.
- Strive to enhance contributions in meetings, communications and programming.
- Approach conflict as solution-oriented, with mutual respect, kindness and understanding.
- Exemplify integrity, accountability and ethical practice.
- Develop student programs and services utilizing Spartan Ready® as a framework for learning.
- Solicit and consider student needs when making decisions and planning programs.
- Promote and provide experiential activities that support and enhance the academic curriculum.
- Empower students to be involved and have ownership of programming and co-curricular activities.
Strategic Focus Areas
Student Affairs Inititatives
The Student Affairs Strategic Planning and Assessment Team coordinates two division-wide programs per year to engage the entire division in the strategic planning process. Past programs include:
- July 2026 Advance, facilitated by Andrew Finch (The Emerging Adult in the Age of AI and Social Media: Implications for Student Affairs)
- January 2026 Advance, facilitated by Student Affairs Staff (Sense of Belonging)
- July 2025 Advance, facilitated by Student Affairs Staff (Spartan Ready® Competencies)
- January 2025 Advance, facilitated by Student Affairs Staff (Overall Well-being and UTampa Cares)
- July 2024 Advance, facilitated by Kate McCaffrey (Paradigm Twist)
- January 2024 Advance, facilitated by the Student Affairs Strategic Planning Assessment Team (Data-Informed Practices in Student Affairs)
- July 2023 Advance, facilitated by Student Affairs Professional Development Committee (Finding Home at UT: Keys to Student Retention, Persistence, and Completion)
- January 2023 Advance, facilitated by the Student Affairs Strategic Planning Assessment Team and Professional Development Committee (Revisiting the Student Affairs Mission, Vision, Focus Areas and Values)
- July 2022 Advance, facilitated by Lamar Hylton (Sustainable Careers in Student Affairs)
- January 2022 Advance, facilitated by Kevin Kruger (The Future of Higher Education)
- July 2021 Advance, facilitated by the Student Affairs Senior Leadership Team and Strategic Planning and Assessment Team (Reflect, Refocus and Reset)
- January 2020 Advance, facilitated by Kristen Walker Donnelly (Competency Development, Spartan Ready)
- July 2019 Advance, facilitated by Eric Freundt (Inquiry and Experiential Education)
- January 2019 Advance, facilitated by Jillian Kinzie (High Impact Practices)
- July 2018 Advance, facilitated by Monnie Wertz and Mark Colvenbach (Generation Z)
- January 2018 Advance, facilitated by Keith Edwards (Toward Thriving: Applying the Science that Works. Focus on positive psychology)
- July 2017 Advance, facilitated by the Strategic Planning and Assessment Team (Essentialism)
- January 2017 Advance, facilitated by Alex Desiderio (change and priority management)
- July 2016 Advance, facilitated by Paul Grossberg, MD (motivational interviewing)
- January 2016 Advance, facilitated by Emma Pettit (focus on diversity and inclusion)
- July 2015 Advance, facilitated by Angela Lauer Chong (focus on legal issues in higher education)
- January 2015 Advance, facilitated by Lua Hancock (focus on collaborative partnerships)
- June 2014 Advance, facilitated by Kathy Guthrie (focus on living and working wholeheartedly in higher education)
- January 2014 Advance, facilitated by Susan Komives (focus on student learning outcomes)
- May 2013 Advance, facilitated by Tom Miller, interim vice president of Student Affairs and associate professor, College of Education, the University of South Florida (focus on retention and persistence) and David Stern, Provost, The University of Tampa (focus on collaboration between academic and student affairs)
- January 2013 Advance, facilitated by Teri Bump (focus on likeability and career trajectory)
- May 2012 Advance, facilitated by Michael Weeks, (focus on systems thinking)
- Winter 2011 Staff Planning Day, facilitated by the Student Affairs Strategic Planning Committee, (focus on mission statement development)
- July 2011 Advance, facilitated by Timothy McMahon, Ph.D. (focus on organizational change and diversity)
Division Awards
In 2014, Student Affairs introduced a series of awards that recognize staff members who exemplify our core values in action and programs that support our strategic priorities.
Student-Learning Centered
- Tiffany Nelson - 2025
- Becky Nero-Wall - 2024
- Kyle Shatto - 2023
- Kiara Pittman - 2022
- Joshua Pullens - 2021
- Jin Kim - 2020
- Rachel Killam - 2019
- Brittaney Mericle - 2018
- Ian McGinnity - 2017
- Jacquelyn Edwards - 2016
- Addie Carothers - 2015
- Shannon Calega - 2014
Collaboration
- Melissa Rosado - 2025
- Dominique Gardner - 2024
- Emily Bridges - 2023
- Kelly Allgeier - 2022
- Annie Donaldson - 2021
- Erika Buckley - 2020
- Matt Battista - 2019
- Rachel Killiam - 2018
- Shannon Calega - 2017
- Nora Jarmon - 2016
- Joe Wynn - 2015
- Melena Postolowski - 2014
Community and Citizenship
- Linda Wilde - 2025
- Melissa Rosado - 2024
- Madi Bridges - 2023
- Addie Carothers - 2022
- Ian McGinnity - 2021
- Tim Harding - 2020
- Molly Butters - 2019
- Molly Butters - 2018
- Mark Colvenbach - 2017
- Tiffany Garcia - 2016
- Ian McGinnity - 2015
- Ciarra Joyner - 2014
Diversity and Inclusion (No longer a category as of 2024)
- Reichard Burse - 2024
- Tess Aguilar - 2023
- Ana-Cristina Medal - 2022
- Ana Maia - 2021
- Amber Rivera - 2020
- Erika Buckley - 2019
- Addie Carothers - 2018
- Chris Gottlick - 2017
- Raven Davis - 2016
- Sabrina Griffith - 2015
- Lisa Ryan - 2014
Professional Practice
- Abby McElligott – 2025
- Mark Colvenbach - 2024
- Sarah Hart - 2023
Professionalism (No longer a category as of 2023)
- Tim Nelson - 2022
- Jennifer Scaia - 2021
- Sharon Charles - 2020
- Kelly Allgeier - 2019
- Jake Peters - 2018
- Tim Nelson - 2017
- Angela Ward - 2016
- Dawn Hoskins - 2015
- Connie McCullough - 2014
Personal Responsibility (No longer a category as of 2023)
- Cristina Muyshondt - 2022
- Amy Greene - 2021
- Annie Donaldson - 2020
- Amber Myer - 2019
- Angela Ward - 2018
- Hailey Palmer - 2017
- Sandi Miller - 2016
- Katie Meyer-Griffith - 2015
- Jacquelyn Edwards - 2014
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the entire division completed an extensive 10-year review of the foundational documents by incorporating feedback from across the division to update and realign the Student Affairs mission, vision, core values and strategic focus areas. As a result of the process, the core values were revised to the following: student-centered learning, collaboration, community and citizenship, and professional practice.
- 2025 - Senthil Subramanian
- 2024 - Katie Godwin
- 2023 - Zach McDowell
- 2022 - Amy Apicerno
- 2021 - Paul Greenwood
- 2020 - Cheri Etling-Paulsen
- 2019 - Mary Martinasek
- 2018 - Drew Kelly
- 2017 - Joseph Sclafani
Data-Informed Practice
2025 - Peer Wellness Coaching
2024 - Vaughn Info Desk
Sense of Belonging
2025 - UTampa Paralympic Sports Day
2024 - Taste of Cultures*
Spartan Ready Culture
2025 - Disney Leadership Spring Break
2024 - Table Talk and Tact
Overall Well-Being
2025 - Wellness Room
2024 - 24/7 Support Line
Retention and Persistence
2025 - Career Ambassador Program
2024 - QEP Proposal
Professional Staff Development
2025 - Advance Planning Team
2024 - PDC, Summer Advance and Fall Exchanges
High Impact Practices (No longer a category as of 2024)
2023 - Interfaith Retreat
2022 - A Better High
2021 - Career Readiness Program
Technology, Data and Assessment (No longer a category as of 2024)
2023 - Week of Welcome Guidebook
2022 - First Destination Survey
2021 - Virtual May and December Commencement
Academic Affairs Collaboration (No longer a category as of 2024)
2023 - Gateways Pre-Orientation Program
2022 - Tru-Motivate
2021 - Quinncia: UT Career Services Mock Interview Program
Spartan Ready Culture (No longer a category as of 2024)
2023 - Athletics - Skill Articulation Workshops
2022 - Spartan Ready Leadership Excursion: The Dali Museum
2021 - Spartan Shield Educational Plan
Resilience and Sense of Belonging (No longer a category as of 2024)
2023 - Self-Service Wellness Room
2022 - Spartan Connect Program
2021 - Quarantine and Isolation Student Engagement
*Prior to 2025, Inclusion and Sense of Belonging
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the entire division completed an extensive 10-year review of the foundational documents by incorporating feedback from across the division to update and realign the Student Affairs mission, vision, core values and strategic focus areas. As a result of the process, the strategic focus areas were revised to the following: student-centered learning, collaboration, community and citizenship, and professional practice.
The Linda W. Devine, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Award, originally established in 1989 as the Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Award, recognizes a University faculty or staff member who has made a significant contribution to life outside the classroom. The recipient must be employed at UTampa for at least five years and be selected by the prior recipients. Those currently serving in Student Affairs are not eligible for the award. The recipients will be announced at the annual Leadership Awards Night Ceremony, and their names will be displayed on a plaque that is mounted in the Plant Hall lobby. The recipient will receive a $500 check from an endowment created by Devine and her family. The recipient will be part of the commencement platform party at the spring commencement and will be announced from the platform.
In 2018, the award was renamed the Linda W. Devine, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Award. Devine is a long-time member of the UTampa community who believes strongly in the value of the co-curriculum and integration of campus resources to develop the whole person. Recipients of the award share this vision and will have significantly contributed to this fusion in a systemic and positive way, laser-focused on the student and complimenting curricular work.
Linda W. Devine Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution to Student Life Recipients
- 2025-2026 - Paul Greenwood
- 2024-2025 - Larry Marfise
- 2023-2024 - Erin Setelius
- 2022-2023 - Eric Freundt
- 2021-2022 - Mary Anderson
- 2020-2021 - Cheri Etling-Paulsen
- 2019-2020 - Paul Finocchiaro
- 2018-2019 - Susannah LeMarquand
- 2017-2018 - Kristen Foltz
